Biden Administration Proposes Water Cuts to Save Colorado River and Western States

The Biden administration has released an environmental analysis of competing plans for how seven Western states and tribes reliant on the dwindling water supply from the Colorado River should cut their use. The 1,450-mile river serves 40 million people across seven states, which span tribal land, and Mexico, generates hydroelectric power for regional markets, and irrigates nearly 6 million acres of farmland. A multidecade drought in the West intensified by climate change, rising demand and overuse has sent water levels at key reservoirs along the river to unprecedented lows.