Overview

• Arizona, California, and Nevada propose a plan for shared water cuts across the Colorado River Basin, aiming for sustainable management amid climate change.
• Upper Basin states, led by Colorado, submit a competing plan demanding Lower Basin states take on more significant cuts to address water scarcity.
• The Lower Basin's proposal includes monitoring water levels across seven reservoirs to determine necessary cuts, with all seven states contributing during the driest years.
• The Upper Basin's plan focuses on Lake Powell and Lake Mead operations, suggesting Lower Basin states should reduce their water use based on reservoir levels.
• Negotiations highlight the urgent need for a basin-wide solution as the current drought management rules set to expire at the end of 2026.