The deal between California, Arizona and Nevada agrees to cut at least 3 million acre-feet of water through 2026 – around 10% of the states’ Colorado River allocation – water that would otherwise be used to irrigate farms, generate hydropower or feed municipal drinking water systems. The water cuts would be split up among farmers, tribes and cities who are working with the federal government on short-term payments in exchange for water savings. The four states that make up the river’s upper basin – Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico – said they supported reviewing the new plan. The deal marks a major step after months of tense negotiations to save a crashing Colorado River system, which provides water to more than 40 million people in the West. “What really happened after (January) was the lower basin states came together and started talking,” California’s lead Colorado River negotiator, JB Hamby, told CNN on Monday.

Source: CNN May 23, 2023 10:52 UTC