Federal officials this week are expected to ease water cuts for Western states reliant on the Colorado River next year.
Federal officials this week are expected to ease water cuts for 2024 under a slightly improved outlook for the Colorado River’s health, though long-term challenges remain.
The river provides water for seven U.S. states, 29 Native American tribes and two states in Mexico. It also supports a multibillion-dollar farm industry in the West and generates hydropower used across the region. Years of overuse by farms and cities and the effects of drought worsened by climate change has meant much less water flows today through the Colorado River than in previous decades.
I don't understand why they don't keep restrictions as-is and allow Lake Mead and Lake Powell to fill further. We had a good year for precipitation - let's try to pad the future when we have some more dry years, instead of using the water now.