US plan for Colorado River could cut up to 40% supply for Arizona, California and Nevada
Summary
The US government has proposed cutting up to 40% of water supplies from the Colorado River to Arizona, California, and Nevada due to severe drought and low reservoir levels. The plan, which will be finalized in June, could reduce the water flow by up to 3 million acre-feet annually and will be reviewed every two years.Key Facts
- The plan targets Arizona, California, and Nevada, which rely on the Colorado River for water.
- Water deliveries could be cut by up to 3 million acre-feet each year, enough to supply 6 to 9 million households for one year.
- Cuts will be based on the legal priorities set by the 1922 Colorado River Compact, with California having the highest priority.
- The Central Arizona Project, a canal transporting water to central and southern Arizona, may see water flow reduced to zero.
- The Colorado River provides water to about 40 million people in the western US.
- The seven states that depend on the river failed to reach an agreement on sharing cuts by a February deadline.
- The river has lost nearly 28 million acre-feet of groundwater over 20 years due to overuse and drought.
- States in the river’s upper basin (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico) resist cuts, saying lower basin states should reduce usage.
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