The Trump administration has released its long-awaited 10-year plan for dealing with worsening water shortages along the Colorado River. Instead of ordering the most drastic water cutbacks it could have imposed, the administration chose to take more of a wait-and-see approach. The plan allows for steep water cuts if they’re deemed necessary, requiring California, Arizona and Nevada to cut up to 3 million acre-feet per year — as much as 40% of the combined allotments. But as The Times reported last week, state and local officials say for the first two years, the Trump administration is accepting an offer the three states made to reduce what they take from the river by about half that amount. … While the three lower basin states shoulder the burden for now, “the only sustainable path is with the seven states and Mexico all participating,” said Bill Hasencamp, MWD’s manager of Colorado River resources. “We can’t do it alone.”

Related:

• E&E News by Politico: Interior advances Colorado River plan with ‘draconian’ cuts for Arizona
• Inside Climate News: Federal plan makes steep Colorado River water cuts to Arizona, California and Nevada
• KJZZ (Phoenix): There’s a new plan for Colorado River water after years of negotiations. Here’s what to know
• Arizona Daily Star (Tucson): U.S.’s new plan will slash AZ’s water supplies if river stays low
• Nevada Current: Nevada faces ‘unrealistic reductions’ in ‘fundamentally flawed’ Colorado River plan, officials say
• The Denver Post (Colo.): Federal government implements 10-year Colorado River plan after states fail to find deal
• FOX13 (Salt Lake City): Utah spared from facing mandatory cuts in feds’ Colorado River plan
• The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, Calif.): Colorado River plan sets stage for future California water cuts
• Cowboy State Daily (Cheyenne, Wyo.): Feds release new 10-year plan for Colorado River water, Gordon ‘encouraged’