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Interior Finalizes Two-Year Colorado Cuts for Lower Basin

8/23/2026

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Interior Department Cuts

On Friday, August 21, 2026, the U.S. Interior Department finalized a two-year plan that cuts Colorado River water deliveries to California, Nevada and Arizona.
The plan follows the lower-basin states’ own proposal and imposes no mandatory reductions on the upper-basin states.
Deliveries drop 1.25 million acre-feet annually: Arizona 760,000, California 440,000, Nevada 50,000.
The plan also asks lower-basin states to voluntarily conserve and store an extra 700,000 acre-feet.

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Interior Department Cuts

The U.S. Interior Department finalized a two-year plan on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, cutting Colorado River water deliveries to California, Nevada and Arizona.
The plan ignores climate-driven drought and chronic over-use threatening communities, farms and ecosystems.
Arizona loses 31% (760,000 acre-feet), Nevada 16% (50,000), California 10% (440,000).
Lake Mead and Lake Powell sit at lowest levels in decades, raising failure fears.
Arizona officials say they may sue, expecting prolonged legal battles over cuts.

History

Historical Context

The 1922 Colorado River Compact divided the river into Upper and Lower basins, each receiving 7.5 million acre-feet, while the 1944 Boulder Canyon Project Act set Lower Basin allocations at 2.8 million for Arizona, 4.4 million for California and 0.3 million for Nevada. Applying those formulas, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s 2026 cuts of 760,000 acre-feet (Arizona), 440,000 acre-feet (California) and 50,000 acre-feet (Nevada) reflect the Compact’s original balance amid worsening drought.

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Interior Department Cuts

On Friday, August 21, 2026, the U.S. Interior Department finalized a two-year plan that cuts Colorado River water deliveries to California, Nevada and Arizona.
The plan follows the lower-basin states’ own proposal and imposes no mandatory reductions on the upper-basin states.
Deliveries drop 1.25 million acre-feet annually: Arizona 760,000, California 440,000, Nevada 50,000.
The plan also asks lower-basin states to voluntarily conserve and store an extra 700,000 acre-feet.

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