Federal officials announce water cuts as Colorado River supplies continue to plunge
Summary
Federal officials announced that California, Nevada, and Arizona must reduce their use of Colorado River water by 1.25 million acre-feet each year for the next two years because the river’s water levels are dangerously low. Mexico will also cut back its water use due to an agreement with the U.S. The Colorado River faces a long drought, and the current water-sharing rules expire soon without a long-term agreement among the seven states involved.Key Facts
- California, Nevada, and Arizona will reduce their Colorado River water use by 1.25 million acre-feet annually for two years.
- Arizona will have the largest water use cuts among the three states.
- Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico do not face water cuts at this time.
- Mexico will reduce its Colorado River water use by 250,000 acre-feet under a treaty with the U.S.
- The Colorado River is experiencing a 26-year drought, making water supply critical.
- Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the two largest reservoirs fed by the river, are at their lowest levels in nearly 70 years.
- The seven Colorado River states have been unable to reach a long-term water-sharing agreement before current rules expire in October.
- Officials say the cuts are a short-term solution while talks on a permanent plan continue.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
