Federal Government Releases Plan for Colorado River Management Amid State Tensions
The federal government has released a final environmental impact statement detailing its plan to manage the Colorado River's key reservoirs, including Lakes Mead and Powell, for the next decade. This plan involves significant water cuts for downstream states such as Arizona, California, and Nevada, and sets a conservation target of up to 200,000 acre-feet for the Upper Basin states, including Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah. The report is part of a broader federal environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act, which has been ongoing for three years. The plan aims to address the severe drought conditions affecting the river, which supplies water to millions of people across seven states and 30 tribes. The federal government is also negotiating separate international agreements with Mexico regarding water deliveries. 
