Colorado River at a tipping point: looming federal plan could trigger major water cuts

With historic drought draining reservoirs, the federal government is poised to unveil a plan for the shrinking Colorado River that could impose substantial water cuts across seven U.S. states and parts of Mexico, impacting roughly 40 million people and reshaping agriculture, energy and Western economies. The decision hinges on climate-driven shortages and existing water-management rules, and whatever is decided could trigger legal disputes and ripple effects beyond the basin if states resist or renegotiate terms.