The seven states that rely on the Colorado River for drinking water missed a Tuesday deadline to agree on reduced shares as the river’s flow continues to decline dramatically.

But the states and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which manages the river and its reservoirs, said that negotiations would continue, citing “extraordinary pressure on this critical water resource that supports 40 million people, tribal nations, agriculture and industry.”

“While more work needs to be done, collective progress has been made that warrants continued efforts to define and approve details for a finalized agreement,” the state and federal officials said in a joint statement.

At issue is whether states will agree to permanent, voluntary water usage cuts. Those in what is known as the river’s lower basin

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