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The administration announced a 1.25 million acre-feet cut to Colorado River deliveries for 2027 and 2028.

The administration announced a final decision to reduce Colorado River water deliveries by 1.25 million acre-feet across the Lower Basin states for the years 2027 and 2028. Arizona is expected to take the largest reduction, with 760,000 acre-feet cut from its supply. The plan, established by the Bureau of Reclamation, provides a two-year operating framework and sets criteria for maintaining water levels in Lake Powell. While the Upper Basin states are not facing cuts, the Lower Basin states—Arizona, California, and Nevada—are facing significant shortages. Nevada filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation, claiming the federal government is positioning to short the state by imposing an annual reduction of 213,556 acre-feet, which represents about 71% of its allocation. In response to the cuts, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs stated that the state has been protected from disastrous federal water cuts, but noted that the work is not over. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes called for a statewide pause on new data centers, citing their high water and power intensity. Meanwhile, cities like Glendale and Tucson are implementing long-term strategies, including underground water banking and reclaimed water use, to manage the shrinking supply.

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