Federal officials have announced a new plan to address the shrinking and drought-afflicted Colorado River. The framework outlines sharp reductions in water deliveries for three Western states that rely on the imperiled river over the next two years.
Under the Bureau of Reclamation's plan, Arizona, California, and Nevada will collectively reduce their water use by 1.25 million acre-feet annually. There is a possibility of larger cuts depending on future conditions.
Arizona will see its share of the river shrink by a third, a move likely to increase reliance on groundwater and raise pressure on agriculture.
These measures follow the worst snowpack on record last winter. The resulting scarcity has heightened pressure on ecological habitats, commercial industry, hydroelectric producers, and agriculture.