States dependent on Colorado River required to conserve unprecedented amount of water in deal

 

The Biden administration has reached a landmark deal with states dependent on the Colorado River to conserve water amid the decadeslong drought.

The three Colorado River lower basin states -- California, Nevada and Arizona -- will be required to conserve an unprecedented 3 million-acre-feet of water through 2026, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced in a press release Monday.

The deal is voluntary among the three states and will prevent the need for federal intervention to mandate cuts.

...The plan also says that if Reclamation's predictions for Lake Mead expect it to fall below 1.025 feet at any point in 2024, 2025, or 2026, the states will have 45 days to propose a plan to protect the water levels in Lake Mead.

If they do not come up with an acceptable plan, the department will be able to intervene...more