Story perspectives

Arizona and Nevada Sue Over Colorado River Water Cuts

By Drooid · Oct 20, 2026, 11:19 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Arizona and Nevada filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Bureau of Reclamation’s Colorado River water-cut plan.
The plan would cut Arizona’s allocation by 760,000 acre-feet, straining families, farmers and businesses.
Governor Katie Hobbs said Arizona will not accept a forced federal plan that harms families, farmers and businesses.
Mesa officials expect a 12,000 acre-foot (22%) reduction next year and cite storage and a 100-year certification to mitigate impacts.

History

Historical Context

The 1922 Colorado River Compact, signed in 1922, divided the river’s 15.5 million acre-feet annual flow among seven basin states. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, tasked with implementing the Compact, projected a 2023 shortfall of 2 million acre-feet, prompting federal cut plans. Today, Arizona and Nevada echo the 1930s legal battles, filing a 2024 lawsuit against the same agency’s proposed 760,000-acre-foot reduction. If courts block the cuts, the federal government may renegotiate allocations, echoing the 1972 Colorado River Basin Project’s adjustments that reshaped water policy.

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Story summary

Arizona and Nevada filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Bureau of Reclamation’s Colorado River water-cut plan.
The plan would cut Arizona’s allocation by 760,000 acre-feet, straining families, farmers and businesses.
Governor Katie Hobbs said Arizona will not accept a forced federal plan that harms families, farmers and businesses.
Mesa officials expect a 12,000 acre-foot (22%) reduction next year and cite storage and a 100-year certification to mitigate impacts.

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