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Colorado River

All articles tagged with #colorado river

climate-and-environment22 hours ago•9 min saved

Nevada challenges federal Colorado River cuts, warns Vegas water is at stake

Nevada filed the first lawsuit opposing the Trump administration’s plan to force about a 20% cut in Colorado River water deliveries to Nevada, Arizona, and California for two years, with potential larger reductions later to protect the river’s depleted reservoirs. The state argues the plan violates the National Environmental Policy Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the Law of the River, and would devastate Southern Nevada’s economy and water supply. While California and Arizona share concerns, four upstream states are not required to cut this round; Nevada says it remains open to negotiation but seeks a court halt to the plan.

via Los Angeles Times|

#climate-and-environment #colorado-river #drought

climate-politics-and-policy1 day ago•22 min saved

Nevada challenges federal Colorado River cuts in landmark lawsuit

Nevada filed a lawsuit against a federal plan requiring cuts to Colorado River water use by Nevada and two other states, arguing the plan violates river rules and ignores the economic impact on southern Nevada, including Las Vegas, as the river faces a potential collapse.

via The Washington Post|

#climate-policy #climate-politics-and-policy #colorado-river

policy1 day ago•10 min saved

Arizona's Colorado River deal heads to lawmakers — do they have power to change it?

Federal planners have moved forward with a Colorado River plan that would sharply cut water for Arizona, California, and Nevada, with Phoenix and Tucson hardest hit. Arizona’s 1980 statute requiring legislative approval for interstate agreements could force a special session to ratify or modify related deals, though experts say the federal plan would proceed regardless of approval. Lawmakers could shape the outcome by approving a three-state deal to share reductions and by tweaking Arizona groundwater rules to adapt to less river water, but they cannot unilaterally block the federal plan.

via KJZZ|

#arizona #colorado-river #legislature

environment1 day ago•60 min saved

Nevada Sues Federal Government Over Colorado River Cuts, Seeks Court Block

Nevada filed a federal lawsuit in Nevada challenging the Trump administration’s Colorado River operating plan, which could reduce the state’s water allocation by as much as 71% annually (up to 213,556 acre-feet over 10 years). Nevada argues the plan unlawfully curtails its share and would inflict devastating economic and environmental harm, asking for an injunction until federal documents reflect the toll on Southern Nevada’s economy. The suit comes as federal water cuts—unprecedented without a basin-wide agreement—face potential participation from California and Arizona, with Upper Basin states largely spared; experts say the legal path could take years and Lake Mead’s levels are projected to drop further.

via Las Vegas Review-Journal|

#colorado-river #environment #environmental-law

environment1 day ago•18 min saved

Southwest Faces Deep Colorado River Cuts as Reservoirs Hit Historic Lows

The U.S. Interior Department released a two-year plan mandating Arizona, California and Nevada to sharply reduce Colorado River water use through 2028 to address record-low reservoir levels, with Arizona facing the largest cuts and California and Nevada also reducing; upper-basin states are not required to cut. The plan aims to stabilize water and power supplies for tens of millions, but could trigger lawsuits as states negotiate longer-term reductions and shared responsibility for the river.

via East Idaho News|

#colorado-river #drought #environment

environment2 days ago•3 min saved

Two-year Colorado River cuts hit California, Nevada and Arizona amid record drought

Federal officials unveiled a two-year plan to cut water use by 1.25 million acre-feet annually across California, Nevada and Arizona, with Arizona facing the largest reductions; upstream states Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico are not facing cuts for now, and Mexico will also reduce its intake under a treaty. The action comes as the Colorado River’s supplies remain stressed and Lake Mead and Lake Powell reach historic low levels, with the current sharing rules expiring in October and longer-term negotiations ongoing.

via ABC7 Los Angeles|

#colorado-river #drought #environment

environment4 days ago•7 min saved

Feds unveil two-year Colorado River plan as Powell nears critical level

The Bureau of Reclamation released a two-year operating plan for the Colorado River that does not mandate cuts in Upper Basin states like Utah, but requires sizable reductions in the Lower Basin (Arizona, California, Nevada) and Mexico to address persistent drought and keep Lake Powell (and Lake Mead) from falling further. Powell's target elevation is raised to 3,510 feet with initial releases of about 6–7 million acre-feet for the 2027 water year and adjustments to stay above that level; Flaming Gorge inflows will be prioritized to support Powell; a new Federally Managed Water Resources Pool at Lake Mead will offset some obligations; the plan includes a 10-year framework to push for a consensus among all seven states and Mexico. Upper Basin states have a voluntary path to save up to 200,000 acre-feet per year, while no mandatory cuts are imposed now; treat the plan as a bridge to a long-term agreement, with potential legal challenges looming from Arizona and others.

via The Salt Lake Tribune|

#colorado-river #drought-management #environment

environment4 days ago•6 min saved

Arizona Bears the Largest Cuts in New Colorado River Plan

The federal Bureau of Reclamation announced a two-year plan (through 2028) to cut Colorado River deliveries by about 1.25 million acre-feet per year across the Lower Basin, with Arizona taking the largest share (roughly 760,000 acre-feet annually) and California and Nevada also facing reductions. The plan aims to keep Lake Powell’s levels above 3,510 feet and will be revisited every two years, relying on a mix of mandatory cuts and voluntary water-saving measures while leaving Upper Basin states out of this round.

via KJZZ|

#arizona #colorado-river #environment

energy-and-environment7 days ago•41 min saved

Powell Reservoir Drops to Record Low as Colorado River Face-of-Drought Tightens Water Supply

Lake Powell, the nation’s second-largest reservoir, has fallen to a record-low water level of about 3,519.8 feet, with Lake Mead also at a historic low (roughly 1,039.83 feet); projections show Mead could dip below 1,110 feet by 2028 and Powell near the minimum power pool (about 3,490 feet) by 2027. Seven states and roughly 35–40 million people rely on the Colorado River, as drought, climate change, and heavy use tighten supplies. The Interior Department proposed cutbacks of up to 3 million acre-feet per year, a plan facing pushback from state officials such as Arizona’s governor.

via The Hill|

#colorado-river #drought #energy-and-environment

environment9 days ago•202 min saved

Lake Powell Reaches Record Low, Intensifying Western Water Crisis

Lake Powell, the United States’ second-largest reservoir, dropped to a record low of 3,519.91 feet, edging past the previous record and leaving it about 30 feet from the dam’s minimum power pool; Lake Mead has also hit new lows, highlighting a long-running Colorado River drought driven by climate change and heavy water use. Powell and Mead store roughly 60% of the basin’s water and power the region, prompting federal plans for water cuts across seven states in coming days, while El Niño could bring limited relief but won’t reverse years of drought.

via CNN|

#climate-change #colorado-river #drought

environment9 days ago•3 min saved

Powell at record low threatens West’s water and power supply

Lake Powell fell to a new record low of 3,519.91 feet on Aug. 15, underscoring a worsening Western drought driven by climate change and threatening future hydroelectric power; slipping below 3,490 feet could imperil electricity generation and push the system toward ‘dead pool,’ risking water for millions and irrigation for California’s Imperial Valley. With Lake Mead also at record lows, federal plans are cutting outflows, and recovery hinges on a much wetter winter, though long‑term trends point to continued declines despite the slim chance of El Niño help.

via USA Today|

#climate-change #colorado-river #drought

environment13 days ago•10 min saved

New Colorado River framework leans on voluntary cuts and tribal credits to navigate drought

The Bureau of Reclamation’s new 10-year framework for the Colorado River emphasizes voluntary conservation in the Upper Basin (Utah and neighboring states) and allows up to 3 million acre-feet of conserved water to be stored in Lake Powell for transactions, while raising the possibility of large cuts in the Lower Basin (Arizona, California, Nevada) during dry years. It targets about 200,000 acre-feet of voluntary savings for Utah and other Upper Basin states, but also contemplates maintaining Powell and Mead levels by adjusting releases and potentially tapping upstream reservoirs. The plan could trigger a compact call or lawsuits if flows fall below critical thresholds, and while it’s meant to push toward consensus among seven states, it does not solve long-standing drought and climate-change pressures. Final federal decision is imminent.

via The Salt Lake Tribune|

#colorado-river #drought #environment

environment15 days ago•3 min saved

Lake Mead Dips to Historic Low, Amplifying Colorado River Crisis

Lake Mead fell to 1,040.4 feet, its lowest level since filling about 90 years ago, underscoring a severe Colorado River crisis that supplies water and power to roughly 40 million people across seven states and parts of Mexico. The drought, extreme heat, and reduced snowpack have drained the system, with Lake Powell also at historic lows and federal officials proposing short-term water cuts for Arizona, California and Nevada. A plan to protect the humpback chub led to limiting Glen Canyon Dam releases, highlighting competing needs for hydropower and ecosystems. Experts warn the situation could worsen this year as more reservoir declines are anticipated, though longer-term agreements remain elusive.

via The Guardian|

#colorado-river #drought #environment

climate18 days ago•202 min saved

Lake Mead hits record low as Southwest drought deepens Colorado River crisis

Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoir, dropped to a record low of about 1,040.5 feet, underscoring a deepening crisis in the Colorado River basin driven by overuse, persistent drought and limited snowmelt, with officials warning of potential substantial water-use cuts among lower-basin states to protect critical water and hydropower infrastructure.

via CNN|

#climate #colorado-river #drought

environment21 days ago•8 min saved

Arizona water future hinges on diversification as Colorado River cuts loom

The Interior Department is poised to impose large Colorado River cutbacks—potentially up to 40%—on Arizona, California and Nevada, which could hit Phoenix-area water supplies hard. Officials say taps won’t go dry because cities are diversifying with groundwater, Salt River supplies, and programs like the Secure Water Arizona Program (SWAP) and water transfers. Cities are also pursuing storage projects, groundwater banking, and even potential desalination deals to weather a long-term shift to a drier baseline, with final cut sizes for 2027–2028 to be announced soon.

via KJZZ|

#arizona-water #colorado-river #environment