- Lower Basin states propose major water savings through 2028.
- Plan builds on earlier cuts of 1.25 million acre-feet per year.
- Additional conservation could reach up to 1 million acre-feet.
- Proposal depends on federal funding and coordinated operations.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 — A new proposal from Arizona, California, and Nevada is attempting to slow the decline of the Colorado River system, as reservoir levels continue to fall and water supplies tighten across the Southwest.
On May 1, 2026, the Lower Basin states
advanced a plan that would deliver more than 3.2 million acre-feet of water savings through 2028. The proposal is designed as a temporary bridge while longer-term rules for managing the river are still being negotiated.
The urgency is clear. Inflows to Lake Powell are approaching record lows, and both Lake Powell and Lake Mead face growing risks of dropping to critical levels.
JB Hamby, Chairman of the Colorado River Board of California, described the effort as a shift toward action.
“This proposal is about moving from ideas to implementation,” he said.
What the Plan Actually Does.
The proposal builds on earlier commitments by the Lower Basin to reduce water use by 1.25 million acre-feet per year, along with an additional 250,000 acre-feet from Mexico.
Now, the states are adding a new layer of conservation. The plan calls for at least 700,000 acre-feet of additional savings, with a goal of reaching up to 1 million acre-feet.
Altogether, that brings total contributions to more than 3.2 million acre-feet through 2028.
But the plan is not just about cutting water use. It is structured as what officials call an “integrated, non-severable package,” meaning all parts must work together.
Key components include:
- Adjustments to releases from Lake Powell.
- New rules for storing and using conserved water.
- A system for managing Intentionally Created Surplus water.
- Infrastructure improvements, including at Glen Canyon Dam.
- Creation of a Tribal Pool to support federal obligations to Native American tribes.
Because these pieces are interconnected, the proposal cannot be implemented in parts. It must be approved and carried out as a whole.
How the Cuts Are Shared.
Under the proposal, annual reductions of 1.25 million acre-feet would be divided among the Lower Basin states:
- Arizona: 760,000 acre-feet per year.
- California: 440,000 acre-feet per year.
- Nevada: 50,000 acre-feet per year.
These reductions would begin in 2027 and continue through 2028.
Additional conservation efforts would be shared as well, with estimated contributions of:
- 300,000 acre-feet from California.
- 300,000 acre-feet from Arizona.
- 100,000 acre-feet from Nevada.
Officials emphasized that these efforts depend heavily on federal funding and support.
A System Under Pressure.
Water agencies across the region say the proposal reflects how serious conditions have become.
John Entsminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, pointed to the need for measurable action.
“Now is the time for every water user in the Basin to double down on water conservation as we face historically dry hydrology,” he said.
The Metropolitan Water District echoed that concern, noting that snowpack conditions are among the worst on record and that uncertainty remains a major challenge for water planning.
“What is not manageable is continued uncertainty with this water supply,” the agency said in a statement.
Local Concerns Still Matter.
While the plan has broad support, local agencies are watching closely.
The Imperial Irrigation District, one of the largest users of Colorado River water, backed the proposal but emphasized the need to protect agriculture and local economies.
“IID has been and will continue to be a leading voice in these discussions, always grounded in protecting our community and the agricultural economy,” said Board Chairwoman Karin Eugenio.
District officials also stressed that any participation would require funding and careful consideration of impacts, including those affecting the Salton Sea.
A Push for Cooperation.
The proposal comes at a time when all seven Colorado River Basin states have struggled to reach a long-term agreement.
Lower Basin leaders say the current plan is meant to keep the system stable while negotiations continue.
The document itself makes that clear, stating that the goal is to “build resilience in the Colorado River system and provide a bridge to long-term operations.”
Arizona officials also framed the plan as a way to maintain state control over water decisions.
Governor Katie Hobbs said the proposal would help “protect Arizonans from devastating cuts” while allowing states to shape their own future.
What Happens Next.
The proposal has been submitted to the federal government and will be reviewed as part of the National Environmental Policy Act process.
Several steps still remain:
- Approval from the Arizona Legislature.
- Approval from California and Nevada water agency boards.
- Federal funding commitments.
- Final coordination with other Basin states.
The timeline is tight. The plan is designed to run through 2028, leaving only a short window to develop a broader, long-term agreement.
For now, the Lower Basin states are signaling that immediate action is necessary to keep the system from slipping further.
As JB Hamby, Chairman of the Colorado River Board of California put it, without measurable contributions, “the system will continue to decline.”
