The US has a new plan for the Colorado River

Photo: The narrow reservoir arm of Lake Mead in Black Canyon just upstream of Hoover Dam, with a prominent white “bathtub ring” marking the lowered water level and floating log booms across the water – April 24, 2026. Photo credit: Christian David via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0 (no modifications). Article by Brendan Cosgrove. Morning Brew – August 23, 2026.

After years of interstate bickering over the Colorado River’s water supply, the federal government unveiled a new plan on Friday, though the situation remains…fluid. The plan, which proposes cuts to three states’ water usage, comes after years of drought and overuse. This has left two of the Colorado River’s largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell—which help provide drinking water and power for millions of residents—at record lows. (Not to mention, what’s been uncovered by low water levels may scare you off swimming for good.) […]

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Related articles:

Fearing ‘Catastrophic Impacts’ From Water Cuts, Nevada Sues Feds Over Colorado River Plan – Inside Climate News

Feds Reduce Colorado River Allocations to States That Rely on Irrigation Water – Civil Eats

Nevada sues feds over Colorado River cuts – Nevada Current