Federal officials finalize 10-year Colorado River water cut plan for lower basin states

Federal officials on Friday, August 21, 2026, finalized a 10-year plan to drastically reduce water deliveries from the drought-stricken Colorado River to Arizona, California, and Nevada, implementing the largest-ever mandatory cuts for the lower basin states in response to historically low reservoir levels. The framework, announced by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, sets the stage for significant water reductions in 2027 and 2028, with the potential for even steeper mandatory cuts in subsequent years if conditions deteriorate further.

Under the operating plan, Arizona will see the largest immediate reduction, with mandatory cuts of approximately 760,000 acre-feet per year for the next two years. California's allocation will be reduced by 440,000 acre-feet annually, and Nevada's by 50,000 acre-feet. An acre-foot is enough water to serve roughly four households for a year. In addition to these mandatory reductions, the three states have agreed to voluntarily conserve and store at least 700,000 acre-feet of water over the two-year period to protect the system. This combined action totals a reduction of about 3.2 million acre-feet over two years.

The plan was developed after years...