Water Crisis in the American Southwest Threatens Millions
The American Southwest faces a critical water shortage as the Colorado River, a vital resource for seven states, struggles to meet demand. The river's allocation, established in 1922, originally provided 15 million acre-feet of water annually, but current supply has dropped to approximately 12 million acre-feet. This decline has led to federal intervention, with a new allocation plan set to reduce water access for California, Arizona, and Nevada by up to 3 million acre-feet annually starting in October 2026. The crisis impacts agriculture, industry, and residential areas, with Phoenix and other cities heavily reliant on the Central Arizona Project canal for water. Climate change and reduced snowpack in the Rockies are key contributors to the dwindling supply. Source time: Sun, 23 Aug 2026 20:12:27 GMT. 
