Trump Administration to Cut Colorado River Water Supplies Up to 40 Percent

The Trump Administration announced it will impose a 10-year plan that cuts water supplies for Arizona, Nevada, and California by up to 40 percent, depending on river conditions. The plan follows decades of discussion about water policy in the desert southwest and comes after the states failed to agree on reductions themselves.

The Colorado River Compact, signed a century ago, set allocations for the upper and lower basins but overestimated average flows. States along the river have operated under that shortfall ever since.

A drought that has lasted more than two decades has further reduced flows. The river supplies water to major cities and agricultural districts across seven states.

The administration said the cuts will be implemented because the states could not reach a voluntary agreement.