Key facts
- The U.S. government finalized a plan to reduce water use from the Colorado River for California, Nevada, and Arizona.
- The three states will collectively reduce water use by 1.25 million acre-feet annually for the next two years.
- Arizona will face the largest cuts, while upstream states are exempt for now.
- Mexico will reduce its intake by 250,000 acre-feet annually.
- The plan aims to address critically low levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell, exacerbated by a 26-year drought.
Federal officials announced mandatory water use reductions for California, Nevada, and Arizona from the Colorado River for the next two years, totaling 1.25 million acre-feet annually. This decision comes amid a severe, 26-year drought that has depleted the river's two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, to their lowest levels in decades. Arizona will bear the largest share of the cuts, while upstream states like Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico are currently exempt. Mexico will also reduce its water intake by 250,000 acre-feet annually under a treaty. The current rules governing river water use expire in October, and states have struggled to reach a long-term consensus. The reduced water supply impacts farmers, industry, wildlife, hydropower production, and tens of millions of people, including Native American tribes.