Environment & Climate
Federal Colorado River reductions spur uncertainty and litigation in Western states
Under a new federal plan, Lower Basin states must reduce water usage as key reservoirs hit record lows.
The short version
- Arizona, California, and Nevada must collectively reduce Colorado River water use by 1.25 million acre-feet annually over the next two years under a new federal plan.
- Nevada has filed a lawsuit against the Interior Department and the Bureau of Reclamation over projected water cuts of up to 70% in the Las Vegas region over the next decade.
- Lake Mead and Lake Powell reached record low levels, alongside 30-year lows at eight other federal reservoirs across the Western U.S.
Key facts
- The Bureau of Reclamation plan requires Arizona, California, and Nevada to cut water usage by 1.25 million acre-feet annually for two years, with larger reductions possible depending on river conditions.[Associated Press]
- Nevada filed a federal lawsuit challenging potential water allocation reductions of up to 70% for the Las Vegas area over the next 10 years.[Associated Press]
- Lake Mead and Lake Powell hit record low levels, while eight other Bureau of Reclamation reservoirs recorded their lowest levels in at least 30 years.[Associated Press]
- Upper Basin states—Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico—are not subject to mandatory cuts under the immediate plan, though voluntary reductions remain an option.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- The outcome of Nevada's legal challenge against the Interior Department and Bureau of Reclamation is pending, as the Bureau declined to comment on ongoing litigation.[Associated Press]
- It remains uncertain whether prospective weather patterns, such as El Niño, will offer enough moisture to stabilize reservoir levels long-term.[Associated Press]