Water managers across the West gathered in Las Vegas Wednesday for the start of the annual Colorado River Water Users Association.
The meeting includes those from the seven states that rely on the Colorado River as well as tribal leaders in those states.
It’s expected those at the conference will lay out plans to combat ongoing drought and expected shortages.
The Bureau of Reclamation has predicted a 57 percent chance Lake Mead will hit shortage level as soon as 2020.
Arizona and Nevada would experience cuts first if the lake drops too low.
Arizona is one of the holdouts in finalizing its drought contingency plan, and it’s likely the state will be a focus at this week’s conference.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey threatened this week to veto any drought contingency plan that does not equitably divide up the pain of water cuts in 2020.
