Overview

• The NRDC and partner organizations filed a petition urging the Bureau of Reclamation to enforce regulations limiting wasteful water use in California, Arizona, and Nevada.
• The petition targets inefficient agricultural practices, such as flood irrigation for water-intensive crops like hay and alfalfa, which account for 74% of Colorado River water diversions.
• Municipal and industrial waste, including ornamental grass watering and outdated cooling systems, are also cited as areas for reform under the 'beneficial use' provision.
• The Colorado River, which supports 40 million people, 30 tribal nations, and critical ecosystems, has seen a 20% decline in flow since 2000, with reservoirs Lake Mead and Lake Powell at just 33% capacity.
• Negotiations among seven basin states over post-2026 water-sharing rules remain at an impasse, adding urgency to federal intervention to address water scarcity exacerbated by climate change.