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California Governor Gavin Newsom has backed Utah's proposal to trade Colorado River water shares for funding desalination plants in a letter to fellow governors. He highlighted the need for a multi-state solution to manage water supplies for over 40 million people.

Newsom commended Utah Governor Spencer Cox's vision for expanding water resources through advanced technologies. Recent negotiations among states, including California, Utah, Colorado, and others, did not yield an agreement, but discussions will continue.

The current Colorado River agreements expire in October, raising concerns over potential lawsuits and water supply risks. Environmental groups prefer conservation over desalination due to the time and cost associated with building plants.