"Colorado River States Clash Over Long-Term Water Cut Plans"

Seven Western states are preparing for future water cuts from the Colorado River as water levels continue to decrease due to climate change. The upper and lower basin states have submitted competing plans on how to allocate future cuts, with disagreements over who should bear the brunt of reductions. The upper basin proposal puts mandatory cuts on the lower basin states if Lake Mead falls to a certain threshold, while the lower basin plan proposes monitoring water levels in seven different reservoirs to determine when cuts would be necessary. Tensions are high as states seek to find a compromise before the current operating guidelines expire in 2026.