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Colorado River water supply cuts finalized for Arizona, California, and Nevada
The U.S. Department of the Interior has finalized a two-year operating plan to reduce water supplies from the Colorado River for Arizona, California, and Nevada. The measure is intended to address a severe drought that has pushed the nation’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, to record low levels.
Under the new guidelines for 2027 and 2028, Arizona will face the largest reduction of 760,000 acre-feet, representing approximately a 31% cut to its allocation. California will reduce its usage by 440,000 acre-feet, while Nevada will see a decrease of 50,000 acre-feet.
The plan does not mandate cuts for the upper basin states, which include Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming. However, officials noted that more drastic reductions could be implemented after 2028 if reservoir levels do not stabilize. The Colorado River is a critical resource, supporting over 40 million people and a significant portion of U.S. agriculture and power supplies.
Entities
Bureau of Reclamation · Colorado River · Lake Mead · Lake Powell · U.S. Department of the Interior
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] California will see a reduction of 440,000 acre-feet of water. elnuevodiario.com.do · kioncentralcoast.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The plan encourages states to voluntarily conserve and store at least 700,000 acre-feet of water over the next two years. elnuevodiario.com.do
- [● 3 SOURCES] Arizona will face a reduction of 760,000 acre-feet of water. elnuevodiario.com.do · kioncentralcoast.com · azcapitoltimes.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The water reductions for the lower basin states are scheduled to take effect during the 2027-2028 period. sjvsun.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The U.S. Department of the Interior has finalized a plan to cut water supplies for Arizona, California, and Nevada. elnuevodiario.com.do · kioncentralcoast.com · azcapitoltimes.com · sjvsun.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Nevada will reduce its water consumption by 50,000 acre-feet. elnuevodiario.com.do · kioncentralcoast.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The upper basin states of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico face no mandatory water cuts under this plan. kioncentralcoast.com · sjvsun.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The reservoirs of Lake Mead and Lake Powell have reached record low water levels. kioncentralcoast.com