First-Ever Mandatory Water Cutbacks Next Year Along the Colorado River For Arizona, Nevada and Mexico

Arizona, Nevada and Mexico will be required to take less water from the Colorado River for the first time next year.

This decision has been taken to keep enough water in Lake Mead to reduce the risk of a crash.


It’s not because there’s a good snowpack that the drought is over! Projections are showing showing that as of Jan. 1, the level of Lake Mead will sit just below a threshold that triggers some cuts. And this is also why the federal Bureau of Reclamation activated the first-ever mandatory reductions in water deliveries last Thursday.

Arizona and Nevada agreed to leave a portion of their water allotments in the reservoir under a landmark deal with California called the Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan, which the states’ representatives signed at Hoover Dam in May.

California agreed to contribute water at a lower trigger point if the reservoir continues to fall. And Mexico agreed under a separate accord to start contributing to help prop up Lake Mead, which is now 39 percent full.

Read the rest here:

[link to strangesounds.org (secure)]