California is one of three states that will face reduced Colorado River water allocations under a new federal plan as the West continues to grapple with prolonged drought.
The U.S. Department of the Interior released operating guidelines for the Colorado River for 2027 and 2028 on Friday, Aug. 21. They say California, Arizona and Nevada will collectively reduce their water allocations by 1.25 million acre-feet annually, according to a department news release.
“These decisions provide a water management strategy for Basin stakeholders to respond to the prolonged drought by incorporating flexible tools and voluntary actions while leaving room for consensus agreements,” Andrea Travnicek, the department's assistant secretary for water and science,
said in a statement.
In the West, the Colorado River plays a critical role, as "seven basin states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) depend on it for water supply, hydropower production, recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, and other benefits," according to the Bureau of Reclamation.
Under the federal plan, Arizona will absorb the largest cut at 760,000 acre-feet annually, followed by California at 440,000 acre-feet and Nevada at 50,000 acre-feet. An acre-foot, or 326,000 gallons, is generally enough to "meet the annual indoor and outdoor needs of three average households," according to the North Marin Water District.
The two-year plan is part of a broader 10-year framework meant to protect water supplies, hydropower and reservoir operations amid ongoing drought conditions, the department said.
Record lows at Lake Powell and Lake Mead
The Colorado River system supports more than 40 million people, 5.5 million acres of farmland, 30 tribal nations and major hydropower facilities across the West, according to Interior officials.
The Colorado River Basin has been experiencing "unprecedented drought" for the past 26 years, "resulting in historically low runoff and reservoir levels," according to the Bureau of Reclamation.
After record-low snowpack during the 2025-2026 winter season, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoirs, are at some of their lowest levels since the Colorado River storage system was created, the Department of Interior said.
"The combined contents of Lake Powell and Lake Mead have not been this low since before Lake Powell began filling following the closure of the gates at Glen Canyon Dam in 1963, with both Lake Powell and Lake Mead hitting record lows the last few weeks," the department said.
In the Decision Framework for Colorado River Guidelines, federal officials concluded that previous agreements, including the 2007 Interim Guidelines and the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan, have not been sufficient to halt declining reservoir levels during the prolonged drought.
Long-term consensus guidelines fail
With several of the major reservoir and water management agreements governing Colorado River operations expiring in 2026, the Interior Department spent several years working with the seven basin states, tribes and other stakeholders to reach new long-term operating guidelines, according to the Decision Framework.
Those efforts, though, fell short, as the parties could not reach a consensus before the current rules expire. Instead, the department adopted a 10-year decision framework and will implement two-year operating guidelines beginning Oct. 1, 2026.
The reduction outlined in the 2027-2028 Operating Guidelines is in line with what the three Lower Basin states had proposed earlier this year, a May news release from the Colorado River Board of California shows.
The Lower Basin states, however, continue to call on the Upper Basin states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico to consider mandatory cuts.
"In the coming months, each state across the basin must step up to conserve water and continue to work together across the basin to achieve a durable long-term approach that positions our region for future prosperity," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. "Any long-term solution must share responsibility fairly across all seven states in recognition of the new reality of the Colorado River."
J.B. Hamby, California’s Colorado River commissioner, said he appreciated the federal government’s help in "moving this difficult process forward and establishing a workable path for the next two years."
"But this is a bridge, not a permanent solution," Hamby said in a statement. "California, Arizona, and Nevada have shown that states can compromise, make difficult decisions, and reduce water use when the river demands it. But three states cannot carry the responsibility of all seven."
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs echoed the sentiment in a statement, applauding Nevada and California for also "stepping up to the plate."
"But the work is not over. Arizona’s water is for Arizonans, and we need to fight to keep it that way," Hobbs said in a post on X. "As long as I'm governor, Arizona will continue defending our right to our water by every legal means necessary and stand up to Upper Basin states who refuse to cut a drop of water in protection of the River."
The first two years of a 10-year framework
The newly released 2027-2028 Operating Guidelines are the first rules issued under the 10-year framework.
In addition to the Lower Basin states' water allocation cuts, the guidelines call for the Lower Basin states to voluntarily conserve and store at least 700,000 acre-feet of water collectively over the two-year period to help stabilize the river system.
The guidelines also set up rules designed to help maintain Lake Powell at or above roughly 3,510 feet in elevation to protect operations at Glen Canyon Dam and preserve hydropower generation. Starting in October, Lake Powell releases will be guided by hydrologic conditions and, as such, may be adjusted should drought conditions change.
Under the guidelines, Upper Basin states are encouraged to work with Lower Basin states and tribes on operating key upstream reservoirs, including Flaming Gorge, Aspinall and Navajo, to help protect infrastructure at Glen Canyon Dam.
Additionally, the guidelines expand water-storage options for Lower Basin states, allowing conserved water to be preserved for future drought conditions.
To help meet tribal obligations and reduce impacts on tribal water users, the guidelines provide a federally managed pool.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Federal plan reduces California's Colorado River water. See how much
