Lower Basin States Propose Water Conservation Plan to Stabilize Colorado River
The Lower Basin States of Arizona, California, and Nevada have advanced a plan to stabilize the Colorado River through 2028, addressing declining reservoir levels and the risk of critical elevations at Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The proposal includes annual reductions of 1.25 million acre-feet, with an additional 250,000 acre-feet from Mexico, totaling 1.5 million acre-feet per year. The plan also features an expanded system conservation program, aiming for contributions of up to 1 million acre-feet. This integrated package addresses various operational and infrastructure improvements to ensure system stability.