Feds order steep Colorado River water cuts for Arizona, California and Nevada
While the cuts are considerable, they are better than the worst-case scenario the federal government proposed in July.
Federal authorities have announced significant water reductions for the next two years for three Western states that rely on the Colorado River, which is facing severe depletion due to prolonged drought and climate change. California, Nevada, and Arizona collectively must cut their water usage by 1.25 million acre-feet annually, with Arizona bearing the largest share.
Meanwhile, Mexico is required to reduce its intake by 250,000 acre-feet under a U.S.-Mexico treaty. Interior Department's assistant secretary for water and science, Andrea Travnicek, emphasized the need for continued cooperation among the basin's states as they continue to grapple with a prolonged drought. The current regulations governing water usage on the river are set to expire in October, and the seven states have yet to agree on a long-term sharing plan.
The recent winter's record-low snowpack has only compounded the water crisis, affecting farmers, industries, wildlife, hydropower producers, and millions of people who depend on the river, including tens of Native American tribes and two Mexican states. The Colorado River's two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, are at their lowest levels in nearly seven decades, compounded by years of overuse and rising temperatures.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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