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Lake Mead

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Southwest Faces Deep Colorado River Cuts as Reservoirs Hit Historic Lows
environment5 days ago

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
Two-year Colorado River cuts hit California, Nevada and Arizona amid record drought
environment6 days ago

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
Arizona Bears the Largest Cuts in New Colorado River Plan
environment7 days ago

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
Lake Mead Dips to Historic Low, Amplifying Colorado River Crisis
environment19 days ago

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
Lake Mead hits record low as Southwest drought deepens Colorado River crisis
climate21 days ago

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
Colorado River at historic low levels imperils water and electricity for millions
environment1 month ago

Colorado River at historic low levels imperils water and electricity for millions

The combined water levels of Lake Powell and Lake Mead have fallen to historic lows, threatening water deliveries and hydropower for tens of millions in the U.S. Southwest. Powell is at a record-low for July and Mead is near its all-time low, with ongoing drought and climate-change–driven aridity shrinking the basin’s storage. Projections suggest continued record-low storage into spring, prompting renewed negotiations among seven basin states and potential new operating guidelines, while El Niño offers only limited relief. The crisis underscores the need for major efficiency investments, crop-shifts, and other adaptive measures to prevent a system-wide failure.

via East Idaho News|
#colorado-river#drought#environment
Historic Low Levels in Powell and Mead Endanger Water and Power for Millions
climate1 month ago

Historic Low Levels in Powell and Mead Endanger Water and Power for Millions

The combined storage of Lake Powell and Lake Mead has fallen to historic lows, with Powell at 3,524 feet and Mead just under 1,043 feet as of July 12, 2026, the lowest July levels on record. The Colorado River basin is 95% in drought, and these reservoirs supply water for about 40 million people and power for hundreds of thousands of homes. Powell could reach minimum power pool by spring 2027, threatening hydropower and water deliveries; El Niño could bring some relief but is unlikely to reverse the risk. Officials call for updated operating guidelines and major investments in water efficiency and crop management.

via CNN|
#climate#colorado-river#drought
Colorado River Faces System Crash Without Bold Water Cuts
environment2 months ago

Colorado River Faces System Crash Without Bold Water Cuts

New research warns the Colorado River Basin is approaching a 'system crash' unless states dramatically curb water use. With Lake Mead around 1,049 feet (975 ft is a critical threshold) and Lake Powell’s outflows reduced, buffer storage could quickly vanish, threatening urban supplies and especially agriculture in the Lower Basin. The study argues current negotiations aren’t enough and calls for substantial mandatory cuts across Nevada, California and Arizona, potential upstream-downstream rebalancing, and possible Supreme Court action as drought and climate pressures intensify.

via Las Vegas Review-Journal|
#climate-change#colorado-river#drought
Colorado, Nevada push back on federal Colorado River plan amid drought
environment2 months ago

Colorado, Nevada push back on federal Colorado River plan amid drought

Colorado and Nevada negotiators signaled at a Boulder water conference that key parts of the Bureau of Reclamation’s plan to release water from Lake Powell and Lake Mead need revision, notably the idea of biannual reviews; with drought tightening supplies and Powell’s inflow forecasts at record lows, the long-standing compact remains unresolved as states fear litigation or a potential Supreme Court showdown. Reclamation aims to finalize a decade-long reservoir-operations plan within two months, but a temporary two-year approach from Lower Basin leaders and unresolved questions about who bears cuts and tribal allocations keep the dispute highly contentious.

via Colorado Public Radio|
#colorado-river#drought#environment
US outlines 10-year Colorado River cuts to stabilize dwindling supplies
climate-and-environment3 months ago

US outlines 10-year Colorado River cuts to stabilize dwindling supplies

The Trump administration is drafting a 10-year framework that would mandate water reductions along the Colorado River—potentially up to 3 million acre-feet annually across California, Arizona, and Nevada—reassessed every two years. The plan, discussed with state leaders in Phoenix, aims to stabilize shrinking reservoir levels at Lake Mead and other bases amid ongoing drought and climate-change impacts, with a federal decision expected in the summer.

via Los Angeles Times|
#climate-and-environment#colorado-river#drought
Lower Basin plan buys time with multi-state water cuts through 2028
environment3 months ago

Lower Basin plan buys time with multi-state water cuts through 2028

Arizona, California and Nevada proposed voluntary cuts totaling 700,000–1,000,000 acre-feet through 2028 to bolster Lake Powell and Lake Mead, adding to earlier reductions for a total of over 3.2 million acre-feet through 2028. Framed as a bridge to buy time for longer-term negotiations and to avoid mandatory CAP cuts, the plan requires federal approval and signals openness to mediation with Upper Basin states.

via KJZZ|
#arizona#colorado-river#environment
Southwest banks on two-year Colorado River cuts to avert looming shortages
climate-and-environment3 months ago

Southwest banks on two-year Colorado River cuts to avert looming shortages

California, Arizona and Nevada propose a two-year plan to cut more than 3.2 million acre-feet of Colorado River water through 2028, with Arizona taking the largest share (about 760,000 ac-ft per year, California 440,000 ac-ft, Nevada 50,000 ac-ft), as Lake Mead sits at 31% capacity and Lake Powell at 24% amid record-low snowpack, in a bid to stabilize the river while seven states continue talks on a longer-term deal.

via Los Angeles Times|
#climate-and-environment#colorado-river#drought
Emergency federal plan aims to stabilize Lake Powell amid Colorado River drought
environment4 months ago

Emergency federal plan aims to stabilize Lake Powell amid Colorado River drought

With Lake Powell at about 36% of capacity amid record-low snowpack, the Trump administration announced an emergency plan to avert a power and water shortage on the Colorado River. It will release 660,000 to 1,000,000 acre-feet of water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir over the next year to lift Powell, while reducing Powell’s downstream releases by around 19% (about 1.5 million acre-feet) to push more water toward Lake Mead and downstream users in California, Arizona and Nevada. The move, a short-term fix under a 2019 drought agreement, aims to keep turbines turning and water supplies flowing as negotiations for longer-term cuts stall and drought conditions persist.

via Yahoo|
#bureau-of-reclamation#colorado-river#environment