US orders major Colorado River water cuts for California, Nevada and Arizona

Under the plan, Arizona would account for about 937 million cubic meters of the annual reduction, California for 543 million cubic meters and Nevada for 62 million cubic meters.

The three states will also be expected to voluntarily conserve and store at least 863 million cubic meters of water over the two-year period, in addition to the annual reductions.

The new rules, signed by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on August 21, establish operating guidelines for Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the two largest reservoirs in the Colorado River system.

The Colorado River provides water to more than 40 million people, supports about 5.5 million acres of farmland and supplies hydropower across seven US states. It also serves 30 tribes and communities in Mexico.

The basin has been experiencing drought for 26 years, with conditions worsening in 2026 after the region recorded its lowest observed winter snowpack during the 2025-2026 season. Lake Mead recently reached a record-low elevation, while the combined water levels of Lake Mead and Lake Powell are at their lowest since Lake Powell began filling in the 1960s.

Under the new rules, Lake Powell will be operated to maintain a minimum elevation of about 1,070 meters to protect the reliability of Glen Canyon Dam. The reservoir is expected to release between 7.4 billion and 8.6 billion cubic meters of water during the 2027 water year.

The federal government said it has invested more than $3 billion in the Lower Colorado River Basin since January 2025 to improve water storage, distribution, treatment and efficiency.

Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that the US imposed 50% tariffs on $28bn in Canadian goods.