The US Bureau of Reclamation on Friday released its proposal for a new Colorado River management plan, outlining mandatory supply reductions of 1.25 million acre-feet annually for California, Arizona and Nevada in 2027 and 2028. The new federal framework could reduce water supply to the three states by up to 3 million acre-feet per year, roughly 40% of their current allocation, with Arizona facing the steepest cuts. Under a separate US-Mexico treaty, Mexico will reduce its intake by 250,000 acre-feet.
The announcement follows record-low levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell and the worst snowpack on record last winter. Since 2020, Colorado River flows have averaged just over 10 million acre-feet annually against water rights totaling 15 million. The current rules governing the river expire in October, and more than 3 million acre-feet of cuts are needed to bring the basin into balance.