US Proposes Colorado River Water Cuts for Arizona, California and Nevada

Federal water managers unveiled a proposal on Friday that would require Arizona, California and Nevada to take less water from the Colorado River, as reservoir levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell remain far below historical averages.

A river under strain

The Colorado River supplies water to roughly 40 million people across seven US states and part of Mexico, supporting cities, farms and tribal communities. Two decades of drought, combined with rising demand, have pushed the river's two largest reservoirs to historically low levels.

• The proposal targets the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada
• Lake Mead and Lake Powell remain at a fraction of full capacity after years of drought
• Agricultural users, who consume the largest share of river water, face the toughest adjustments
• Tribal nations with water rights are seeking a stronger role in ongoing negotiations

State officials have voiced mixed reactions, with agricultural representatives warning that reduced allocations could hurt farm output, while some conservation groups say the cuts do not go far enough to guarantee the river's long-term stability.

Negotiations continue

The proposal opens a public comment period before a final rule is expected, with states given time to negotiate alternative arrangements. Previous rounds of Colorado River negotiations have taken months to finalize amid disputes between states over how cuts should be distributed.

Officials say the coming months will be critical, as current interim guidelines governing the river are set to expire, adding urgency to reaching a durable long-term agreement among the affected states and Mexico.