Trump administration readying a plan to impose Colorado River water cuts on Western states
After months of pressing Western states to come to their own agreement, the Trump administration told their leaders it’s drawing up a 10-year plan for dealing with water shortages on the Colorado River. The river is a major water source for Southern California and much of the Southwest, but its largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, are severely depleted and their levels continue to drop. News of the federal government’s preliminary plan surfaced Wednesday during a meeting in Phoenix. Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, said federal officials informed state water managers they are developing a “10-year framework” with specific rules requiring water reductions that would be reassessed every two years.
Other Colorado River management news:
- E&E News by Politico: Interior preparing drastic Colorado River water cuts
- KSL (Salt Lake City): Coalition urges Congress to allocate $2B for drought mitigation along Colorado River
- Arizona Daily Star (Tucson): Opinion: New proposal to stabilize the Colorado River — Will it work?
