On Friday, July 31st, 2026, the US government unveiled a long-awaited plan to address the ongoing Colorado River water crisis, announcing cuts to water supplies for California, Arizona, and Nevada. The proposal, issued by the US Bureau of Reclamation, temporarily spares Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming from mandatory reductions.
The 10-year plan could impose cuts of up to 3 million acre-feet (approximately 3.7 billion kiloliters) annually on the Lower Basin states, representing up to 40% of their collective water allocation, contingent on hydrologic conditions. This volume of water is sufficient to serve over 25 million people each year.
The federal plan aims to break a years-long deadlock among the seven states reliant on the river, which stretches 1,450 miles (2,300 km) from the Rocky Mountains into Mexico. The basin supports an estimated $1.4 trillion in economic activity and provides critical habitat for more than 150 threatened or endangered species.
US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated, “This framework provides the flexibility to respond to changing hydrologic conditions while preserving the opportunity for the Basin States to continue working toward durable, consensus-based solutions.”
A detailed record of decision is expected in the coming week, likely reflecting a prior proposal from the Lower Basin states to reduce water use by 3.2 million acre-feet over 2027 and 2028. However, experts note that this plan is a temporary measure as states continue to negotiate a long-term management strategy for the dwindling resource.
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