"FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Six western states that rely on water from the Colorado River have agreed on a model to dramatically cut their use, months after the federal government called for action and an initial deadline passed.
California — with the largest allocation of water from the river — is the lone holdout.
The Colorado River and its tributaries pass through seven states and into Mexico, serving 40 million people and a $5 billion-a-year agricultural industry. Some of the largest cities in the country, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver and Las Vegas, two Mexican states, Native American tribes and others depend on the river that’s been severely stressed by drought, demand and overuse.
States missed a mid-August deadline to heed the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s call to propose ways to conserve 2 million to 4 million acre feet of water. They regrouped to reach consensus by the end of January to fold into a larger proposal Reclamation has in the works."
Felicia Fonseca and Suman Naishadham report for the Associated Press January 30, 2023.
SEE ALSO:
"AP Exclusive: Emails Reveal Tensions In Colorado River Talks" (AP)
"6 of 7 Colorado River States Agree On Water Cuts" (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
"In The West, Pressure To Count Water Lost To Evaporation" (AP)
"A Showdown Over Colorado River Water Is Setting The Stage For A High-Stakes Legal Battle" (CNN)
"Federal Pressure Mounts As States Attempt To Break Colorado River Standoff" (KUNC)
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