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Utah and six other states missed a deadline for a long-term Colorado River plan.

The states did agree to aim at finalizing a plan by February 2026 to avoid federal intervention.

Ongoing negotiations address water scarcity and how to handle cutbacks.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah and the six other Colorado River states reached a tentative agreement to continue working together on a plan to share the river's water, but failed to secure a consensus plan ahead of an important Tuesday deadline .

Utah, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Wyoming, all of which rely on the river for water, agreed to continue to meet until they have a "framework solution" by mid-February 2026, said Gene Shawcroft, chairman of the Colorado River Author

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