"Battle Lines Drawn: Competing Long-Term Water Cut Plans for Colorado River"

California, Arizona, and Nevada have agreed to a plan that would cut California's portion of Colorado River water by about 10% in most years, with the aim of managing the drought-plagued river. The federal government is now tasked with deciding how to manage the river after 2026, when a historic deal expires. The plan involves collective water use cuts when reservoir levels drop, with California taking the biggest share of the water. The proposal also aims to avoid suspicions of states manipulating the system and addresses the need for long-term action to protect the river's water against the impacts of climate change.