- Reclamation
- Colorado River Basin
- Colorado River Post 2026 Operations
- Final Environmental Impact Statement
Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead – Final Environmental Impact Statement
Reclamation has released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. A Notice of Availability of the Final EIS was published in the Federal Register on July 31, 2026.
For more information on the Post-2026 process, please email: crbpost2026@usbr.gov.
Dear Reader Letter (98.7 KB, PDF)
Executive Summary (6.25 MB, PDF)
Volume I – Main Body
- Cover, Abstract, Table of Contents, and Acronyms (2.63 MB, PDF)
- Chapter 1 - Purpose and Need (3.78 MB, PDF)
- Chapter 2 - Description of Alternatives (1.12 MB, PDF)
- Chapter 3 - Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences (7.07 MB, PDF)
- Chapter 4 - Consultation and Coordination (291 KB, PDF)
Volume II - Supporting Appendices
- Cover, Table Of Contents (2.63 MB, PDF)
- A. CRSS Model Documentation (8.28 MB, PDF)
- B. Modeling Assumptions - Lake Powell and Lake Mead Storage and Delivery of Conserved Water (980 KB, PDF)
- C. Shortage Allocation Model and Alternative Distribution Model Documentation (6.11 MB, PDF)
- D. Sensitivity Analysis - Effects of Natural Flow Percentage Used for the Supply Driven Alternative (545 KB, PDF)
- E. DMDU Overview and Approach (452 KB, PDF)
- F. Approach to Hydrologic Uncertainty (1.75 MB, PDF)
- G. CRSS Initial Conditions (857 KB, PDF)
- H. Sensitivity Analysis - Effects of Demand Schedule Assumptions on Modeled Unused Tribal Water Available for Storage in the Enhanced Coordination Alternative (592 KB, PDF)
- I. Sensitivity Analysis - Effects of Alternate Upper Basin Dema-d Scenarios on Operations at Lake Powell and Lake Mead (4.52 MB, PDF)
- J. Sensitivity Analysis - Effects of Assumed Parameter Values on 602(a) Storage (409 KB, PDF)
- K. Sensitivity Analysis - Effects of Modeling Assumptions with Regard to Future Water Deliveries to Mexico (1.04 MB, PDF)
- L. Upper Basin States Depletion Schedules (268 KB, PDF)
- M. Lower Division States Depletion Schedules (0.98 MB, PDF)
- N. International Border Region of the Colorado River (6.38 MB, PDF)
- O. Analysis of Lake Powell Infrastructure Protection Releases (634 KB, PDF)
- P. Tribal Consultation and Coordination Efforts (1.63 MB, PDF)
- Q. Federal Register Notices (3.60 MB, PDF)
- R. Response to Public Comment (717 KB, PDF)
- S. Additional Description of Alternatives (920 KB, PDF)
- T. Preliminary Description and Analysis of Anticipated Operating Guidelines for 2027 and 2028 (4.07 MB, PDF)
Volume III – Resource Analysis Technical Appendices
- Cover, Table of Contents (2.57 MB, PDF)
- TA-3 - Hydrologic Resources (8.48 MB, PDF)
- TA-4 - Water Deliveries (5.69 MB, PDF)
- TA-5 - Geomorphology and Sediment (2.70 MB, PDF)
- TA-6 - Water Quality (2.68 MB, PDF)
- TA-7 - Air Quality (3.56 MB, PDF)
- TA-8 - Biological Resources - Fish and Other Aquatic Species (9.69 MB, PDF)
- TA-9 - Vegetation Including Special Status Species (3.74 MB, PDF)
- TA-10 - Terrestrial Wildlife Including Special Status Species (951 KB, PDF)
- TA-11 - Cultural Resources (2.33 MB, PDF)
- TA-12 - Paleontological Resources (7.60 MB, PDF)
- TA-13 - Tribal Resource (522 KB, PDF)
- TA-14 - Recreation (1.42 MB, PDF)
- TA-15 - Dams and Electrical Power Resources (6.53 MB, PDF)
- TA-16 - Socioeconomics (4.13 MB, PDF)
- TA 17 - Population and Land Use (5.15 MB, PDF)
- TA 18 - Indian Trust Assets (8.06 MB, PDF)
- TA 19 - Visual Resources (1.64 MB, PDF)
Volume IV – Preparers, References, Glossary, and Index
- Cover, Table of Contents (2.47 MB, PDF)
- List of Preparers (237 KB, PDF)
- References (302 KB, PDF)
- Glossary (369 KB, PDF)
- Index (131 KB, PDF)
The Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register on January 16, 2026. The Draft EIS is available for viewing or downloading at this website.
