colorado river

DENVER (AP) — A welcome surge of melting snow is pouring out of the Rocky Mountains and into the drought-stricken rivers of the southwestern U.S., fending off a water shortage but threatening to push rivers over their banks.
Last winter brought above-average snowfall to much of Colorado, Utah and Wyo…

Governor Mark Gordon applauded an historic water shortage sharing agreement Monday as Wyoming joined six other Western States in the signing of the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan.

Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and Mexico are affected.

The Metropolitan Water District, which supplies drinking water to millions in Southern California, agreed to shoulder California’s share of cutbacks if they’re needed.

The agreement runs through 2026.

The states want congressional approval by April 22 so that Mexico also will contribute water starting next year.

The Colorado River serves 40 million and about 7,812 square miles of farmland in the West.

Arizona has some work to do but nothing major holding it back.