Federal and state officials have proposed severe drought response actions, like drastically cutting water releases from Lake Powell, in face of a historically dry year and worsening conditions in the Colorado River Basin. The Bureau of Reclamation announced Friday it will likely reduce Lake Powell water releases to 6 million acre-feet, the lowest amount in decades. It also intends to release additional water from Flaming Gorge, an upstream reservoir, to help elevate the water level in Lake Powell.  The decisions could raise the specter of forced water cuts in states including Colorado, impact endangered fish populations and affect communities and economies.

Other Colorado River management news:

• The Denver Post (Colo.): Critics question feds’ plans for future of Colorado River: In years of severe drought, ‘the system is failing’
• FOX13 (Salt Lake City): Feds order massive water release from Flaming Gorge to prop up Lake Powell
• Arizona Daily Star (Tucson): U.S. to drastically alter Colorado River releases, Arizona officials warn
• KJZZ (Phoenix): Colorado River crisis: Arizona Republican lawmakers meet with Trump administration
• The Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Hydropower at risk as Colorado River outlook grows more dire
• Las Vegas Review-Journal: Feds take emergency action to keep water flowing into Lake Mead
• KLAS (Las Vegas): New plan will boost Lake Powell, take water away from Lake Mead during dry year
• Los Angeles Times: Trump administration takes emergency step to sustain key Colorado River reservoir
• E&E News by Politico: Interior unveils emergency plans for Colorado River