The federal government has agreed to pump more than $450 million into programs to carry out additional Colorado River water conservation, Arizona Department of Water Resources chief Tom Buschatzke said Monday. The spending is necessary to make the new proposal from Arizona, Nevada and California work, Buschatzke and other water officials said Friday in releasing their offer to save 700,000 to 1 million acre-feet of river water through 2028. … The U.S. Interior Department proposed that the money be spent, and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, which must sign off on all federal expenditures, approved it, Buschatze said at a news briefing Monday afternoon on the new plan from the three Lower Colorado River Basin states.

Other Colorado River management news:

• E&E News by Politico: Downstream states make their Colorado River play
• KJZZ (Phoenix): Phoenix-area water cuts would be less ‘devastating’ under new Colorado River plan
• FOX10 (Phoenix): Phoenix introduces new roadmap as potential water shortages loom
• The Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Southwestern states offer last-ditch attempt at Colorado River peace
• The Desert Review (Brawley, Calif.): Lower Basin states propose major Colorado River savings plan
• Imperial Valley Press Online (El Centro, Calif.): Imperial Valley backs major Colorado River Pact to stave off reservoir collapse
• Marketplace: Podcast: Understanding water rights in the Colorado River Basin
• Inkstain: The Utility of Operationally Neutral and Flexible Conservation Pools in the Colorado River Basin