Nevada faces steep cuts in new Colorado River water plan

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released a 10‑year federal plan to manage the Colorado River’s dwindling supplies. The framework calls for lower‑basin states to cut water use by up to 3 million acre‑feet in dry years, with Nevada slated for the smallest mandatory reduction of about 210,000 acre‑feet annually. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo warned the plan imposes “unrealistic reductions” that could harm the state’s economy and environment, while Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the plan offers flexibility for changing hydrologic conditions.

A Cornell University study published in *Earth’s Future* projects that the six West‑Slope basins feeding Lake Powell could see inflows drop by as much as 50 % by mid‑century. The research predicts reservoirs will sit 40‑55 % below historic median storage, driven largely by earlier snowmelt and shifting water demand, threatening the water and energy supply for roughly 40 million people who rely on Lake Powell.