Aug 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Friday finalized a plan to slash water supplies to California, Nevada and Arizona to manage the drought-stricken Colorado River.
The three so-called lower basin states will take around a 21 percent reduction in water from the river in 2027 and 2028, but potential cuts could nearly double in following years, according to the plan signed by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
Arizona and Nevada have said any plan to double the cuts after 2028 would devastate their economies. Arizona has threatened to sue the federal government if it imposed these potential cuts as part of the new 10-year plan.
Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming, the upper basin states, face no mandatory cuts under the plan. The Colorado River provides water to one in 10 Americans, irrigates land producing 15% of U.S. food output and generates power for 6 million people in seven states.
In three years of failed negotiations between the seven states, upper basin states refused to take cuts, arguing they face automatic cuts in water supply due to the severe drought impacting the U.S. West.
#water #Colorado #basin
The three so-called lower basin states will take around a 21 percent reduction in water from the river in 2027 and 2028, but potential cuts could nearly double in following years, according to the plan signed by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
Arizona and Nevada have said any plan to double the cuts after 2028 would devastate their economies. Arizona has threatened to sue the federal government if it imposed these potential cuts as part of the new 10-year plan.
Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming, the upper basin states, face no mandatory cuts under the plan. The Colorado River provides water to one in 10 Americans, irrigates land producing 15% of U.S. food output and generates power for 6 million people in seven states.
In three years of failed negotiations between the seven states, upper basin states refused to take cuts, arguing they face automatic cuts in water supply due to the severe drought impacting the U.S. West.
#water #Colorado #basin
25 days ago
