Arizona, California and Nevada would share cuts under Colorado River proposal

Arizona, California and Nevada could face combined Colorado River cuts of up to 3 million acre-feet per year through 2036 under a federal proposal released Friday. That amount is roughly equal to the current water supplies for Arizona and Nevada combined. The reductions would be reviewed every two years based on conditions across the river basin.

The proposal would require cuts in the Lower Basin, while Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming could rely mainly on voluntary reductions. Federal officials stepped in after the seven states failed to reach a shared agreement, amid years of drought, rising temperatures and declining reservoir levels. Lake Mead and Lake Powell are at their lowest combined level since they began filling.

Arizona officials called the plan flawed and warned that the proposed cuts could harm farms, cities and tribal communities. The Arizona Department of Water Resources said the reductions could damage the state’s economy. The Central Arizona Project, which delivers much of Arizona’s Colorado River water to areas including metro Phoenix and Tucson, said the proposal does not accurately reflect the state’s water rights.

The plan is not expected to shut off taps in metro Phoenix, but some communities could face higher water rates and greater reliance on groundwater or other costly supplies. Farmers could also leave fields unplanted. Federal officials are expected to finalize the proposal in the coming days.