The Colorado River, a critical water source for 40 million people across seven U.S. states, is facing a crucial management deadline as negotiations among the states have stalled. The river, spanning 1,450 miles from the Rocky Mountains to Mexico, has been overdrawn for over a century. Rising temperatures and reduced precipitation, exacerbated by climate change, have further strained the river's resources. The states involved—Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, California, Arizona, and Nevada—are at an impasse over how to implement necessary water cuts. The federal government may intervene with its own plan, potentially leading to legal disputes. The situation is dire, with the river's flow down 20% over the last century and precipitation reduced by 7%.