Federal officials announce water cuts as Colorado River supplies continue to plunge

Federal officials have announced mandatory water cuts for California, Nevada, and Arizona as supplies in the Colorado River continue to plunge. Under a plan released by the Bureau of Reclamation on Friday, the three Western states must collectively reduce their water use by 1.25 million acre-feet annually for the next two years.

The federally mandated reductions are a direct response to the imperiled state of the Colorado River system, which has seen severe supply declines. Depending on future environmental conditions and water supply levels, the implemented plan leaves open the possibility of even larger cuts in the future.