Three Colorado River states must take big water cuts as biggest US reservoirs plunge to record lows
The plan accepts a 3.2 million acre-foot reduction through 2028 and sets possible larger cuts if reservoir levels keep falling.
- On Friday, the Interior Department finalized a 10-year management plan for the Colorado River, mandating water cuts for California, Arizona, and Nevada over the next two years to prevent reservoirs from reaching critically low levels.
- Federal officials imposed these rules after the seven basin states failed to reach a consensus on long-term management strategies, missing multiple deadlines to submit a unified proposal.
- The plan mandates 1.25 million acre-feet in annual reductions for the Lower Basin, with Arizona absorbing 760,000 acre-feet, California 440,000, and Nevada 50,000, plus voluntary conservation of at least 700,000 acre-feet over two years.
- Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs praised the outcome as a 'win' compared to forced federal alternatives, though she criticized the plan for protecting Upper Basin reservoirs at Lake Mead's expense without requiring those states to share reduction burdens.
- This two-year operating guideline serves as a temporary bridge while federal authorities require new rounds of talks to address future management, as reservoir levels could necessitate larger mandatory cuts of up to 3 million acre-feet per year.
115 Articles
115 Articles
Feds announce Colorado River cuts for 3 states amid drought | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
WASHINGTON >> Federal officials on Friday sharply cut how much water Arizona, California and Nevada can draw from the Colorado River over the next two years in an attempt to stabilize a system on the verge of collapse because of climate change and overuse.
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Arizona, California and Nevada Face Major Colorado River Water Cuts as Reservoir Levels Sink
Federal officials are requiring substantial reductions in Colorado River water use by Arizona, California and Nevada over the next two years, with Arizona facing the ... The post Arizona, California and Nevada Face Major Colorado River Water Cuts as Reservoir Levels Sink first appeared on [your]NEWS.
Interior Department Approves Colorado River Water Reductions in 3 States
The Department of the Interior will cut the amount of water it allocates through the Colorado River to Arizona, Nevada, and California in 2027 and 2028. The cuts were signed off by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum on Aug. 21 as part of the department’s 2027-2028 Operating Guidelines for the Colorado River, which provides water to over 40 million people, generates hydropower for seven states, and is a vital resource for 30 tribes and two Mex…
US imposes deep Colorado River water cuts to California, Nevada and Arizona
The U.S. government on Friday finalized a two-year plan to slash water supplies to California, Nevada and Arizona to manage the drought-stricken Colorado River, while leaving open the possibility of far deeper cuts later in the decade. The post US imposes deep Colorado River water cuts to California, Nevada and Arizona appeared first on West Hawaii Today.
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