US proposes cuts to Colorado River use for Arizona, California and Nevada
The US Bureau of Reclamation has proposed mandatory water cuts for Arizona, California, and Nevada to address a historic Colorado River shortage, with reservoirs at their lowest levels since 1957. The three Lower Basin states could collectively reduce annual use by up to 3 million acre-feet through 2036, with actual reductions determined every two years based on basin conditions.
The Colorado River faces an unprecedented water crisis as federal authorities move to implement conservation measures across the western United States. The US Bureau of Reclamation unveiled a proposal on Friday designed to prevent further deterioration of the river system while protecting four upstream states from immediate mandatory reductions. The framework aims to provide flexibility, allowing deeper cuts during drier periods while giving states additional time to develop a coordinated management strategy for the increasingly scarce resource.
Under the proposal, Arizona, California, and Nevada—the three Lower Basin states—would share responsibility for reducing water consumption by up to 3 million acre-feet annually through 2036. This volume represents approximately what Arizona and Nevada currently receive and could supply more than 25 million people annually. The specific reduction amounts would be recalculated every two years based on overall basin conditions, rather than remaining fixed. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that the department aims to maintain system reliability for the millions of Americans, communities, and industries dependent on Colorado River water.
The allocation framework divides responsibility between the three states, with California, Nevada, and Arizona first splitting half of all required cuts according to a previously agreed plan. Additional reductions would then be determined by priority water rights. While Arizona and Nevada have experienced mandatory cuts previously, this proposal contemplates significantly deeper reductions that could affect agricultural operations, urban water supplies, and tribal water rights. Experts warn that implementation could result in higher water costs, increased groundwater extraction, and reduced agricultural acreage.
The proposal emerges after years of unsuccessful negotiations among the states, with threats of litigation if any agreement failed to comply with existing legal frameworks governing the river. Some of these governing provisions expire at the end of 2026. A historically low snowpack has contributed to record-low water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the two largest reservoirs in the United States, which together have reached their lowest combined level since 1957. The federal government released its final environmental review on Friday, with binding operating guidelines expected by October 1.
More than 40 million people across seven states, multiple tribal nations, and Mexico depend on Colorado River flows. The river's capacity has declined due to decades of overallocation, rising temperatures, prolonged drought, and climate change—factors that have reduced its output below the levels promised in the original 1922 allocation agreement. The health of the entire system increasingly depends on water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell, which are approaching thresholds where hydropower generation may become impossible.
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