Interior Finalizes the Deepest Colorado River Cuts on Record — 1.25 Million Acre-Feet a Year, With Arizona Absorbing 760,000 — as Lake Mead and Lake Powell Fall to Levels Not Seen Since 1963

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We are grateful for the Seven Basin States, the thirty Basin Tribes, Mexico, and many other basin stakeholders who have provided the feedback and voluntary arrangements necessary for the development of the 2027-2028 Operating Guidelines.

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These decisions provide a water management strategy for Basin stakeholders to respond to the prolonged drought by incorporating flexible tools and voluntary actions while leaving room for consensus agreements.

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Arizona and our Lower Basin partners have stepped up with significant conservation commitments, and now every Basin state needs to do its part.

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Arizona and our Lower Basin partners have stepped up with significant conservation commitments, and now every Basin state needs to do its part.

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The Lower Basin’s proactiveness and response to ongoing drought and extreme weather impacts affecting Lake Mead remains a model for river management. However, the federal government has produced a plan that provides little certainty for Nevada and other Lower Basin users. Looking into years three through 10 of the decision framework, the federal government is positioning to short Nevada — the state with the smallest river allocation at only 1.8% — sacrificing the health and safety of Nevadans before requiring equal water responsibility for our shared water resources from the Upper Basin.

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This is a necessary step to protect a river that 40 million Americans depend on, at a time when climate change is driving a regional water crisis that makes every drop of water count. California continues to lead the way forward, growing our economy while cutting our Colorado River water use to the lowest level since 1949. I appreciate Secretary Burgum’s work with California and all seven basin states to get to this point. That said, this operations plan provides only short-term stability. In the coming months, each state across the basin must step up to conserve water and continue to work together across the basin to achieve a durable long-term approach that positions our region for future prosperity. Any long-term solution must share responsibility fairly across all seven states in recognition of the new reality of the Colorado River.

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With this plan, we saved Arizona from forced federal cuts that would have crippled our economy and America’s national security. The federal decision also protects Upper Basin reservoirs at the expense of Lake Mead and falls short of providing the water that the Lower Basin is entitled to, all while the threat of unilateral federal cutbacks in future years remains.