Key facts
- Nevada filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's plan for the Colorado River.
- The federal plan mandates a 21% reduction in water supply to lower basin states (California, Nevada, Arizona) for two years starting in 2027.
- Nevada claims the plan violates administrative law, environmental law, and the Law of the River.
- Upper basin states are not subject to mandatory cuts under the new 10-year management plan.
- The lawsuit was filed by Nevada, the Colorado River Commission of Nevada, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
Nevada has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration's plan to reduce water supplies from the Colorado River, a critical resource for the western United States. The lawsuit, brought by the state, the Colorado River Commission of Nevada, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, challenges the Department of the Interior's finalized plan which mandates a 21% cut to water allocations for California, Nevada, and Arizona for two years starting in 2027.
The plan, which could nearly double cuts after 2028, has drawn strong objections from Arizona and Nevada, who warn of severe economic consequences. The lawsuit alleges that the administration violated administrative law, environmental law, and the established Law of the River by failing to consider reasonable alternatives, foreseeable economic impacts, and adequately analyze mitigation measures. Upper basin states, including Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming, are not subject to mandatory cuts under the new 10-year management framework, a point of contention for the lower basin states.
This legal challenge is the first to directly contest the federal plan. The Bureau of Reclamation has not yet commented on the lawsuit. The Colorado River provides water to 40 million people and generates power for millions, and the ongoing drought in the western U.S. has intensified disputes over its management.