Federal government proposes Colorado River water cuts for lower basin states
Both The Guardian and PBS NewsHour report on a new federal plan addressing the Colorado River water crisis, which would impose water cuts on California, Arizona, and Nevada while sparing upper basin states. The Guardian frames the cuts numerically and describes the fix as likely temporary, while PBS frames the plan within a broader narrative of drought and interstate gridlock.
The US federal government released a plan to address the Colorado River water crisis, proposing cuts of roughly 40% to water supplied to lower basin states California, Arizona, and Nevada. The plan could reduce supply by up to 3 million acre-feet annually, an amount described as enough to serve more than 25 million people. Upper basin states—Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming—are not subject to these mandated cuts. The federal government stepped in after years of gridlock among affected states failed to produce a management agreement, amid an ongoing multi-year drought affecting the river's water levels.
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A new federal plan to manage the Colorado river faces a possible future of water cuts
Under a new federal plan out today to manage the Colorado river, Arizona, California and Nevada face potentially steep water cuts over the next decade. The plan by the Interior Department will impact communities and farms across those states. For now, the proposal spares Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming from mandatory water cuts. Legal battles are expected.
Read original report ↗Arizona, California and Nevada would share cuts under federal proposal to manage the Colorado River
Read original report ↗Western states face more water cutbacks as Colorado River shrinks
After years of battles over its use — and a long-running drought — states that rely on the Colorado River are facing the prospect of further cutbacks. Years of gridlock among the states prompted the federal government to step in. A new blueprint lays out new requirements for managing the shrinking river. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien explains what's at stake for our series, Tipping Point.
Read original report ↗DOI proposes potentially major water cuts
{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story DOI proposes potentially major water cuts The federal government is proposing potentially steep cuts to water used by California, Arizona and Nevada, a major step toward figuring out the management of the dwindling Colorado River. © AP Photo/Brittany Peterson, File The river provides water to...
Read original report ↗U.S. Raises Threat of Steep Water Cuts in Lower Colorado River Basin
A federal plan would impose drastic water cuts on Arizona, California and Nevada in dry years over the next decade. A legal battle could follow.
Read original report ↗Water cuts loom as US unveils long-awaited response to Colorado River crisis
Federal government plan outlines cuts of roughly 40% to California, Arizona and Nevada but fix is likely to be only temporary The US government released its anxiously awaited plan for how to manage the Colorado River crisis on Friday, which includes the potential for harsh cuts in water supplied to California, Arizona and Nevada. Under the proposal, the so-called lower basin states stand to lose up to 3m acre-feet (3.7bn kiloliters) a year – enough water annually to serve more than 25 million people and roughly 40% of their collective total. The so-called upper basin states – Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming – were spared from mandates restricting their supply. Continue reading...
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