Colorado River Fallout: After Upper and Lower Basin states failed to agree on how to manage Lakes Powell and Mead, the federal government stepped in with a 10-year framework and near-term operating guidelines, including mandatory Lower Basin cuts—while lawsuits and tribal rights fights keep pressure on the plan. Water Courts & Storage Debate: Separate legal challenges in Wyoming and Colorado target federal cut decisions and Denver’s Gross Dam expansion, with critics warning new big storage may not pencil out in a hotter, drier future. Wildlife on the Move: Colorado Parks and Wildlife is ramping up a new beaver conservation program and reporting record bear activity tied to drought, including a recent Steamboat Springs bear attack that left a resident with minor injuries. Pollution Cleanup Update: The EPA is seeking public comment on stricter lead limits for the Colorado Smelter Superfund site in Pueblo, which could expand how many nearby homes qualify for soil and indoor dust cleanup. Energy & Reliability Fight: Energy Secretary Chris Wright toured the Ray D. Nixon coal plant near Fountain and pushed back on Colorado’s coal retirement timeline, arguing for reliable, affordable power. Policy Process Shift: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ended annual federal rulemaking for migratory bird hunting seasons, moving season details into a memorandum cycle.