Colorado River cuts spark broad uncertainty for Western cities and farms

A federal plan to trim Colorado River water use by about 1.25 million acre-feet annually for the next two years will force California, Nevada, and Arizona to take mandatory cuts while other states may voluntarily reduce, intensifying uncertainty for cities, farmers, and tribes across seven states as reservoirs fall to record lows and drought persists, with communities like Cave Creek facing continued growth limits and farmers delaying plantings.