California emerges as big winner in historic Colorado River water deal

California emerges as the big winner in the historic Colorado River agreement, which would see the three states in the Colorado’s lower basin conserve about 3 million acre-feet of water from the river by 2026. The plan would see the majority of the cuts, about 1.6 million acre-feet, come from California. The deal marks considerable cooperation among the lower-basin states, tribes, water agencies, and agricultural irrigation districts that have long relied on the Colorado River as a lifeline. The Biden administration said it will analyze the states’ proposal before issuing a final decision later this year.