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Arizona, California, Nevada Propose 1 M AF Water Cuts by 2028

5/9/2026

30 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Arizona, California and Nevada presented a plan to save up to 1 million acre-feet of water by 2028.
The plan was sent to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for approval, pending review.
Nevada and Arizona would cut Lake Mead allocations by about one-third and California by 13%, with cuts beginning in August.
Colorado water commissioner Becky Mitchell urged Upper Basin states to join a mediated process, saying lower-basin cuts are insufficient.

History

Historical Context

The 1922 Colorado River Compact split the river’s flow into two 7.5 million-acre-foot basins, a division later refined by the 1928 Boulder Canyon Act that gave Arizona 2.8 million af and California 4.4 million af. Today the Bureau of Reclamation-backed proposal by Arizona, California and Nevada to trim up to 1 million acre-feet echoes that original allocation framework amid persistent drought.

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Story summary

Arizona, California and Nevada presented a plan to save up to 1 million acre-feet of water by 2028.
The plan was sent to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for approval, pending review.
Nevada and Arizona would cut Lake Mead allocations by about one-third and California by 13%, with cuts beginning in August.
Colorado water commissioner Becky Mitchell urged Upper Basin states to join a mediated process, saying lower-basin cuts are insufficient.

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