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In the negotiations over new agreements managing the Colorado River, the people involved in the high-stakes talks describe things as moving “slowly.”

The Colorado River Water Users Association’s annual meetings got underway here on Wednesday, with leaders from seven states, tribes, the federal government and the country of Mexico hoping to hammer out a deal before the current management agreements expire in 2026. The CRWUA meeting itself brings together stakeholders from all over to discuss issues facing the river that supplies water to more than 40 million people across the western United States.

Water users in California have conserved enough water since 2022 to raise Lake Mead water levels by 16 feet — an effort that has provided temporary stability to the Nevada reservoir, as western states negotiate how to split the Colorado River’s dwindling water supply over the next decade.

Conservation measures implemented by California water regulators have collectively added more than 1.2 million acre-feet of water — the equivalent of 16 feet —  to Lake Mead’s water storage, according to the Colorado River Board of California.

Since winning the election, President-elect Donald Trump has been talking about immigration, border security and government efficiency.

But in California farm country, his comments about water are also getting top attention.

Colorado River water users in California have together voluntarily conserved more than 1.2 million acre-feet of water in just two years, adding the water to Lake Mead to help stabilize the reservoir during historic drought conditions, according to figures released Wed. Dec.4, according to a recent CRBC press release.

The achievements, reported during a meeting of the Colorado River Board of California (CRBC) during this year’s Colorado River Water Users Association’s conference, result from the implementation of a series of conservation agreements in 2023 and 2024, along with agencies storing conserved water in Lake Mead. The agreements involve the Bard Water District, Coachella Valley Water District, Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, Imperial Irrigation District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Palo Verde Irrigation District, San Diego County Water Authority, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.