After Colorado River Basin states failed to meet a deadline for emergency drought reductions Tuesday, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced new emergency water cuts for Arizona, Nevada and Mexico as the nation’s two largest reservoirs decline to perilously low levels. The seven states that rely on Colorado River water were told two months ago to develop plans to drastically reduce water use by 2 million to 4 million acre-feet, but those talks have grown acrimonious. At a news conference Tuesday, federal officials said that an agreement was urgently needed and that it was declaring a Tier 2 shortage for next year — a historic first for the shrinking river. … Arizona’s annual water apportionment will be reduced by 21%, Nevada’s by 8% and Mexico’s by 7%. There is no required water savings contribution for California.

Related articles: 

• Arizona Republic Opinion: Lake Mead is Dying, And Reclamation’s Response is “Stay Tuned’
• Bloomberg Law: Drought Punishes West Anew as US Cuts Colorado River Water
• AP News: Western states hit with more cuts to Colorado River water 
• AP News: Explainer – Winners, losers in water cuts for Western states
• San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego avoids water cuts as federal deadline passes for deal on Colorado River
• Las Vegas Review-Journal: Lake Mead water shortage declared again; Nevada faces more cuts 
• New York Times: A New Round of Colorado River Cuts Is Announced  
• Arizona Republic: Arizona loses one-fifth of its Colorado River allocation under new federal drought plan
• Washington Post: U.S. announces more water cuts as Colorado River hits dire lows
• Axios: Unprecedented shortage forces new water cuts on Colorado River
• Bloomberg: America’s Winter Lettuce Hub Set to Bear Brunt of Water Cuts

Related news releases:

• Imperial Irrigation District: IID statement regarding Reclamation’s announcement of 2023 operating conditions
• Business Wire: Metropolitan Issues Statement on Colorado River Discussions to Reduce Demands on River by 2 to 4 Million Acre-Feet
•  San Diego County Water Authority: Water Conservation is Critical in San Diego County as Colorado River Declines
• Colorado Water Conservation Board: Commissioner Statement on Sustaining Colorado River Basin System
• Central Arizona Project: Statement from ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke and CAP General Manager Ted Cooke