PHOENIX (AP) — A major Southern California water agency is positioning itself to shoulder the state's entire water contribution under a plan to preserve a key river in the U.S. West that serves 40 million people.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — All seven Western states that rely on Colorado River water now have agreed to a plan to keep key reservoirs from plummeting.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Western states are watching as Arizona comes up against a deadline to approve a plan on how to manage a dwindling supply of Colorado River water.

The other six states in the river basin have agreed to drought contingency plans.

An Arizona committee looking for ways to divvy up cuts from the Colorado River water supply says it has a handful of issues to settle.

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.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — National climate experts have been watching and waiting but El Nino has only been teasing, leaving the American Southwest to hang on longer until the weather pattern develops and brings more moisture to the drought-stricken region.

DENVER (AP) — Seven Southwestern U.S. states that depend on the overtaxed Colorado River say they have reached tentative agreements on how to manage the waterway amid an unprecedented drought.

ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) — A federal agency's decision to pass on permitting for much of the Lake Powell Pipeline has opponents cheering the move they say will bring increased scrutiny while supporters maintain the project is still on track.