A new analysis from the Colorado River Research Group is drawing national attention after warning that the river system supplying water to seven states, 30 tribal nations, and millions of people is approaching a critical threshold. The report, titled Colorado River Insights 2025: Dancing with Deadpool, argues that the region is running out of time to prevent severe shortages as climate‑driven aridification and decades of overuse continue to shrink the river’s major reservoirs.

Researchers point to long‑term storage data from Lake Powell and Lake Mead, both of which have experienced dramatic declines over the past two decades. While recent wet years have offered temporary relief, the report emphasizes that the underlying trend remains downward, with hydropower reliability now in question at both dams. The authors warn that if water levels fall too low for turbines to operate, the consequences would ripple across the West, affecting everything from municipal water systems to agricultural deliveries and interstate energy markets.

The report stresses that the region does not lack scientific understanding or policy options. Instead, it argues that the missing ingredient is urgency. Negotiations over the post‑2026 operating guidelines for the river are underway, but the authors caution that incremental adjustments will not be enough to stabilize the system. They call for decisive, collaborative action among states, tribes, federal agencies, and water users to reduce demand and rebuild storage before the system crosses thresholds that are difficult or impossible to reverse.

For Colorado, which sits at the headwaters of the river, the findings carry particular weight. Any major shift in river management will influence Front Range municipal supplies, Western Slope agriculture, and the state’s legal obligations under the Colorado River Compact. State officials have acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, noting that Colorado must balance its own water needs with the broader stability of the basin.

The report arrives at a moment when Western states are preparing for another round of negotiations that will shape the river’s future for decades. As the authors note, the choices made in the next few years will determine whether the Colorado River remains a reliable foundation for life in the West or continues its slide toward crisis.