The US government has proposed a plan that could cut up to 40% of current Colorado River supplies for Arizona, California, and Nevada as reservoirs reach critically low levels due to drought. According to Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, the 10-year plan would reduce water deliveries by up to 3 million acre-feet annually, with evaluations every two years.
Key Takeaways
The US government proposed cutting up to 40% of Colorado River supplies for Arizona, California, and Nevada due to severe drought. This plan follows failed negotiations among states and aims to stabilize reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell.
- Federal proposal could reduce water deliveries by up to 3 million acre-feet annually
- Upper basin states resist cuts, arguing downstream responsibility
- California, Arizona, and Nevada proposed voluntary reductions of 3.25 million acre-feet through 2028
- Final decision expected in June as reservoirs reach critically low levels
The proposal comes after seven states failed to agree on how to divide water cuts by a February deadline. The Colorado River supplies about 40 million people in the American West, and its reservoirs have lost approximately 27.8 million acre-feet of groundwater in the last 20 years due to overuse.
Federal officials recently began releasing billions of gallons of water into Lake Powell to prevent disruptions in hydropower as snowpack levels reached record lows this winter, exacerbating reservoir depletion. Arizona, California, and Nevada are scrambling to conserve water by unveiling an emergency proposal that would pay some users to consume less.
The upper basin states—Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico—have resisted water reductions, arguing that downstream states should bear responsibility for shortages. Meanwhile, California, Arizona, and Nevada proposed voluntary cuts totaling up to 3.25 million acre-feet through 2028, though this plan requires federal approval.
The Bureau of Reclamation said its approach is designed to provide stability while allowing flexibility for future adjustments. The final decision on the federal plan is expected in June as experts warn that without major long-term changes in water use, the Colorado River could become catastrophically overdrawn.
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