Colorado River Water Cuts Approved to Address Ongoing Shortages
California, Arizona, and Nevada have reached an agreement with federal officials to reduce their water usage from the Colorado River by at least 3.2 million acre-feet through 2028. This plan, which avoids harsher cuts initially proposed by the Trump administration, will see California reducing its water use by 12%, Arizona by 31%, and Nevada by 28%. The agreement comes as the Colorado River, a critical water source for 35 million people and 5 million acres of farmland, faces severe depletion due to climate change and prolonged drought. Major reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell are at historically low levels, with Lake Mead at 27% capacity and Lake Powell at 23%. Federal officials are also preparing a 10-year framework to manage future shortages, which could include even larger cutbacks if conditions worsen. [Source time: 2026-07-23 21:57:15 GMT] 
