Arizona, California, Nevada Agree to Cut Colorado River Use to Save One Million Acre‑Feet

A severe drought across the western United States has left Lake Mead at historic lows, threatening water supplies, hydroelectric power and increasing wildfire risk. Snowpack in the Rockies, Cascades and Sierra Nevada is far below median levels, prompting state officials to warn of heightened fire danger and looming water shortages for cities, farms and ecosystems.

In response, the lower‑basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada have reached a temporary agreement to conserve up to 1 million acre‑feet of Colorado River water through 2028. The plan adds to earlier cuts by the three states and Mexico, aiming for a total reduction of about 3.2 million acre‑feet—enough for more than 25 million people. Nevada and Arizona would each take roughly a one‑third reduction in their allotted shares, while California would cut its use by about 13%. The savings are expected to protect reservoir levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead, maintain hydropower generation, and lessen the strain on agricultural users such as the Imperial Irrigation District.

Federal officials from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will release additional water early to support the depleted reservoirs, and the agreement awaits final approval from state legislatures and federal regulators. The coordinated cuts are seen as a short‑term fix to a long‑standing water crisis amplified by climate‑related drought and rising temperatures.