Officials from the United States and Mexico announced Wednesday a Colorado River water-sharing dealfor next two years as the basin continues to be overstressed by prolonged drought. The short-term deal, formally known as Minute 334, calls for Mexico to cut 250,000 acre-feet, or more than 100,000 Olympic swimming pools’ worth of water, in both 2027 and 2028. It also establishes an environmental work group and a pilot program to manage the salinity of Colorado River water as it reaches Mexico. … Under the new international plan, Mexico’s share of the Colorado River could decrease or increase based on forecasts for upstream reservoir conditions at Lake Mead, on the Arizona-Nevada border.

Other Colorado River management news:

• The Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Mexico will share Colorado River shortage with Arizona, other states
• FOX13 (Salt Lake City): U.S. and Mexico strike Colorado River deal
• Water World: U.S., Mexico agree to Colorado River operating measures through 2028
• Bureau of Reclamation: Statement from the Department of the Interior — signing of Minute 334 between the United States and Mexico on Colorado River operations for 2027 and 2028
• National Audubon Society: Blog: In a time of crisis, the U.S. and Mexico renew their commitment to the Colorado River
• Your Wyoming Link (Casper, Wyo.: Opinion: Congress holds a key to Navajo water and the Colorado River
• Scottsdale Independent (Ariz.): Opinion: Arizona should learn from Vegas on water planning
• KTAR (Phoenix): Woman running 2,000 miles in 100 days to sound alarm about Colorado River water crisis