'Everybody will be unhappy with it': Interior Secretary Burgum calls on states to make concessions for Colorado River deal

Ricardo Torres-Cortez, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Apr 8, 2026

Published in News & Features

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LAS VEGAS — U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum reiterated Tuesday that the federal government favors a negotiated deal between the seven states that share Colorado River water over the resource’s allocation rather than a protracted legal battle.

During a Las Vegas Valley visit, Burgum said the federal government will continue pushing for a possible deal before the current 20-year-old one expires in the coming months.

“We’re acting as a facilitator,” said Burgum, noting drought conditions and a continued slowed stream of snowpack water over the last year.

As talks have reached a stalemate, Burgum said states will need to make concessions.

“The only thing I can be certain of is that everybody will be unhappy with it,” he said.

The U.S. is known for its abundance, he added. “But in the Colorado River itself — the amount of water this year — the pie is shrinking, so everybody is going to have to compromise for us to get a solution.”

Burgum traveled to Southern Nevada for two roundtable discussions as part of a listening tour across Western states. He was also scheduled to meet with Gov. Joe Lombardo.

The first conversation at the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center was centered around recreation and public lands. In his opening remarks, Burgum spoke about cutting permitting red tape.

He said his job was to ensure the use of public lands benefits everyday people. The second discussion at a resort would also cover grazing, his office said.

The roundtables were otherwise closed to media.

After failing to meet a Feb. 14 deadline to present a 20-year plan to the federal government, states now have to reach a new water deal before the start of the next water year in October. The Trump administration could impose one if an agreement is not reached.

The states recently were focused on a possible short-term plan, although a resolution wasn’t expected in the near future.

A legal fight would take years and be elevated to the U.S. Supreme Court, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.

John Entsminger, Nevada’s governor-appointed negotiator and general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, said recently that the state was ready to “fight like hell” for the region’s water interests if its allocation was unfairly cut.

Over the past year, the Department of the Interior has hosted meetings with states every two weeks and almost reached a deal six weeks ago, Burgum said.

As the Oct. 1 deadline approaches, he said, “We have to just announce an operating plan for this year; keep encouraging the states to come to an agreement.”

Leaving the decision to a judge would lead to a worse outcome, Burgum said. “Everybody has got to make a compromise. Everybody is going to have to make a sacrifice.”

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(Review-Journal photographer Bizuayehu Tesfaye contributed to this story.)

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