Nevada, California, Arizona Propose Water Plan Pushing Cuts to 20%
The plan identifies up to 3.2 million acre-feet in savings through 2028 as reservoirs face low levels and hydropower risks.
- On Tuesday, Arizona, California, and Nevada submitted a proposal to federal officials to reduce Colorado River water consumption by up to 1 million acre-feet annually through 2028, targeting stabilization of Lake Mead and Lake Powell.
- Years of drought combined with a historically dry winter have pushed Lake Mead and Lake Powell to near historic lows, prompting this voluntary action as a stopgap measure to prevent critical system failures and electricity generation loss.
- The plan includes immediate annual cuts of about 700,000 acre-feet, with potential for an additional 300,000 acre-feet in voluntary reductions funded through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, totaling up to 3.2 million acre-feet through 2028.
- Negotiations among the seven basin states remain stalled, so the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is reviewing the proposal as a temporary bridge while developing a preferred alternative as part of the post-2026 planning process.
- With current shortage guidelines expiring in October, officials aim for a 20-year operating plan to ensure long-term certainty, though reaching consensus among all seven states remains a significant hurdle as the Upper Basin requests federal mediation.
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IMPERIAL — As vital Colorado River reservoirs teeter on historic lows, the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) signaled its support Friday for a massive multistate rescue plan designed to…
Arizona governor Katie Hobbs, along with her peers from California and Nevada, presented a formal proposal to the federal government to preserve the Colorado River, a source of supply for millions of people in the west of the United States.The initiative arises in a context of great tension for possible water supply cuts.Plan to preserve the Colorado River and avoid federal cutsThroughout its social networks, Hobbs warned that the plan seeks to …
Nevada, California, Arizona propose water plan pushing cuts to 20%
Water officials from Nevada, Arizona and California say they will make extra contributions by reducing their use of the Colorado River. Combined with earlier commitments, the proposed cuts add up to a total of about 20% of the states' water allotments.
Arizona joins new plan to cut Colorado River water use
A new proposal from Arizona and other Southwestern states aims to keep the Colorado River system from reaching a critical breaking point.After more than a year of stalled negotiations, Arizona, California and Nevada are now voluntarily proposing deeper water cuts to help stabilize the river and protect water levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead.This proposal reflects the creativity and commitment of water users across the Lower Basin who continue…
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