Federal plan mandates Colorado River water cuts for Southwest

The U.S. government released a federal plan on Friday to manage the Colorado River crisis, mandating steep water cuts for Arizona, California and Nevada through 2036. The plan could reduce deliveries by roughly 40% to the three states and is expected to deeply affect communities and farms across the Southwest.

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Arizona, California, and Nevada would take less water from the Colorado River under a federal proposal to stave off a crisis in the river.

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NPR Published 1 August 2026

Feds mandate historic Colorado River cuts for Southwest through 2036

Under a new federal plan out today to manage the Colorado river, Arizona, California and Nevada would share steep water cuts over the next decade. The plan by will deeply impact communities and farms across those states.

Guardian Published 31 July 2026

Water cuts loom as US unveils long-awaited response to Colorado River crisis

Federal government plan outlines cuts of roughly 40% to California, Arizona and Nevada but fix is likely to be only temporary The US government released its anxiously awaited plan for how to manage the Colorado River crisis on Friday, which includes the potential for harsh cuts in water supplied to California, Arizona and Nevada. Under the proposal, the so-called lower basin states stand to lose up to 3m acre-feet (…

CBS Published 31 July 2026

3 states would face Colorado River water cuts under federal plan

Arizona, California, and Nevada would take less water from the Colorado River under a federal proposal to stave off a crisis in the river.

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