Arizona, California and Nevada offer short-term Colorado River water-saving plan
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · May 8
Arizona, California and Nevada offer short-term Colorado River water-saving plan
10 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 8
The proposal would conserve 3.2 million acre-feet through 2028 to help keep Lake Mead at safe levels for Hoover Dam and water supplies serving about 20 million people.
The Bureau of Reclamation is also sending billions of gallons to Lake Powell to protect hydropower generation, while a May storm added up to 30 inches of Rocky Mountain snow.
Experts say those steps only delay deeper shortages as overuse, megadrought and climate change worsen the crisis, with federal operating rules expiring this autumn and a new management decision due this summer.
As states battle over a shrinking river, who will ultimately decide which farms and cities must go dry?
Is the American West's century of growth built on a promise of water that no longer exists?
Can Tucson's radical water-saving model show desert cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas how to survive?
2026 Colorado River Emergency: Western States Enact Major Water Cuts as Reservoirs Hit Record Lows
Overview
In May 2026, the Colorado River basin faces an unprecedented crisis, with the smallest snowpacks on record and major reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell nearing historic lows. This severe water scarcity has intensified pressure on all states that rely on the river, leading to a prolonged impasse among the seven basin states. In response, California, Arizona, and Nevada have jointly announced a temporary plan to significantly reduce their water usage. This move highlights the urgent need for action as the river’s health becomes increasingly precarious, and it signals a major step toward addressing the ongoing water crisis in the region.