… Cave Creek, which gets about 95% of its water from the Colorado River, will be among the first to feel the impact of those cuts. … Colorado River water travels to Cave Creek through the Central Arizona Project, a 336-mile canal that carries water from the state’s western border to the Phoenix and Tucson areas. The federal government has suggested major cuts to the amount of water the CAP carries each year, forcing Cave Creek officials to find a backup plan quickly. They will be able to keep taps flowing in the short term, but the future is uncertain, as long-term fixes are expensive and complicated. With the Colorado River poised for a dry future, Cave Creek’s struggles could provide lessons for other cities that might feel the pinch of shortages in the future.

Other Colorado River management news:

• KJZZ (Phoenix): This small Arizona town could run out of water as soon as this summer
• Maven’s Notebook: Blog: Building flexibility beyond 2026 — interstate water transfers in the Lower Basin of the Colorado River
• The American Prospect: Blog: The wild wild Western water wars