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.
The U.S. Department of the Interior has mandated significant cuts to Colorado River water deliveries for Arizona, California, and Nevada, aiming to prevent the worst-case scenario of up to 3 million acre-feet of annual reductions. The Lower Basin states will receive 1.25 million acre-feet less water per year for the next two years, beginning in 2027.
Arizona will see a reduction of 760,000 acre-feet, California 440,000 acre-feet, and Nevada 50,000 acre-feets. While these cuts are substantial, they are preferable to the dire situation the federal government feared, and the states must also endeavor to conserve and store at least 700,000 acre-feet during the same period. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum expressed gratitude for the voluntary agreements reached among the seven states, tribes, Mexico, and other stakeholders.
The DOI is also urging the Upper Basin states to cooperate in operating reservoirs to maintain water flow and protect Glen Canyon Dam.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News (US)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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