Colorado River States Propose Drastic Water Cuts

Colorado River States Propose Water Cuts California, Arizona, and Nevada announced a new two-year water-saving plan on May 2, 2026, to address declining water levels in the Colorado River basin. This agreement, detailed in a joint statement, aims to stabilize the river system through 2028 by implementing larger water cutbacks than previously offered in broader negotiations.

The three states' proposal identifies over 3.2 million acre-feet of water cutbacks through 2028. This short-term deal emerged after negotiations for a long-term plan among all seven Colorado River basin states stalled.

The urgency stems from critically low reservoir levels, with Lake Mead, near Las Vegas, currently at 31% capacity, and Lake Powell, on the Arizona-Utah border, at 24% capacity. Lake Powell's low level raises concerns about its ability to generate hydroelectric power in the coming year.

The Colorado River supplies water to approximately 35 million people and 5 million acres of farmland. The river's flow has significantly decreased since 2000, with research indicating that global warming is intensifying arid conditions. The current snowpack in the upper Colorado River watershed is at a record low of 22% of its average, which will result in minimal runoff into the depleted reservoirs this year.