Four states that use water from the Colorado River are asking the federal government to pause some water releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir.
Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico, which make up the river’s Upper Basin, voted to suspend additional releases starting March 1. Delegates from those states say the federal government should let heavy winter precipitation boost water levels in Flaming Gorge. The reservoir, which straddles the border of Wyoming and Utah, is the third largest in the Colorado River system, behind only Lake Mead and Lake Powell.
GBWN’s Kyle Roerink said the Upper Basin’s request to pause releases from Flaming Gorge is another way to make its desires clear.
“Reclamation is hearing the saber-rattling and they’re going to have to demonstrate that they’re hearing both sides,” he told KUNC.