The cuts come as Lake Mead and Lake Powell, two key Colorado River reservoirs, reach record-low levels|Grand Canyon National Park|CC BY 2.0
Arizona, California, and Nevada will face major water cuts through 2028 under a new federal plan unveiled last week to protect the shrinking Colorado River.
Years of drought and overuse have driven Lake Mead and Lake Powell (the river’s two largest reservoirs) to record lows, putting water and power supplies for millions of residents under pressure. The plan aims to address the strain on the Colorado River system.
The 10-year proposal replaces the expiring framework with new water limits subject to review every two years. According to the plan:
- Arizona will take the biggest cut, reducing its allocation by 760,000 acre-feet, or about 27% of its water supply.
- Nevada will reduce its allocation by 50,000 acre-feet, or 16%.
- California will cut 440,000 acre-feet, or 10%.
Upstream states, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico will face no mandatory cuts for now. Downstream negotiators, however, want a longer-term agreement that requires all seven states to share responsibility as supplies decline.
Negotiations remain tense. Officials warn that the dispute could trigger lawsuits between states or against the federal government if they fail to agree on how to manage worsening shortages.
Reservoirs hit record low
The cuts come as Lake Mead and Lake Powell have fallen to historic lows, putting water and electricity supplies at risk for about 40 million people and millions of acres of farmland. Lake Mead recently fell to about 1,040.4 feet.