DOI proposes potentially major water cuts
The federal government is proposing potentially steep cuts to water used by California, Arizona and Nevada, a major step toward figuring out the management of the dwindling Colorado River.
© AP Photo/Brittany Peterson, File
The river provides water to states throughout the West, including drinking water and water for agricultural, industrial and municipal uses.
As the West becomes drier, figuring out how to manage the shrinking resource has been a challenge.
A final environmental impact statement released Friday by the federal government cuts to California, Arizona and Nevada, collectively known as the Lower Basin states of the Colorado River, of up to 3 million acre-feet per year.
That could be dramatically deeper than the 1.6 million acre-feet per year that the lower basin states themselves have proposed for the next two years.
Arizona’s Department of Water Resources said in a statement that a cut of 3 million acre feet per year “would devastate Arizona’s water users and its economy.”
However, the federal government has yet to release anticipated specific plans for managing the river over the next two years.
The Washington Post reported Friday that the forthcoming two-year plan is more in line with the cuts proposed by the states for the next two years.
Read more at TheHill.com.
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:
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The U.S. Department of Energy is harnessing the artificial intelligence boom in its bid to convert another Cold War-era uranium enrichment site, tapping private equity to fund a $100 billion data center complex that will include its own new natural gas and battery storage power plant in Kentucky.
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{beacon} Energy Environment Energy Environment The Big Story DOI proposes potentially major water cuts The federal government is proposing potentially steep cuts to water used by…
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The federal government is proposing potentially steep cuts to water used by California, Arizona and Nevada, a major step toward figuring out the management of the dwindling Colorado River.
© AP Photo/Brittany Peterson, File
The river provides water to states throughout the West, including drinking water and water for agricultural, industrial and municipal uses.
As the West becomes drier, figuring out how to manage the shrinking resource has been a challenge.
A final environmental impact statement released Friday by the federal government cuts to California, Arizona and Nevada, collectively known as the Lower Basin states of the Colorado River, of up to 3 million acre-feet per year.
That could be dramatically deeper than the 1.6 million acre-feet per year that the lower basin states themselves have proposed for the next two years.
Arizona’s Department of Water Resources said in a statement that a cut of 3 million acre feet per year “would devastate Arizona’s water users and its economy.”
However, the federal government has yet to release anticipated specific plans for managing the river over the next two years.
The Washington Post reported Friday that the forthcoming two-year plan is more in line with the cuts proposed by the states for the next two years.
Read more at TheHill.com.
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:
President Trump said Friday he doesn’t believe Iran was behind a cyberattack on Minnesota water systems and instead placed the blame on state officials for being “grossly incompetent.”
U.S. cybersecurity agencies are investigating a coordinated cyberattack on more than 30 municipal water facilities in Minnesota and the possibility of Iranian involvement.
The U.S. Department of Energy is harnessing the artificial intelligence boom in its bid to convert another Cold War-era uranium enrichment site, tapping private equity to fund a $100 billion data center complex that will include its own new natural gas and battery storage power plant in Kentucky.
News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:
Over 530 Local Laws Now Seek to Ban or Restrict Data Centers in U.S. (Heatmap)
Two key stories on The Hill right now:
The Trump administration on Friday appealed a ruling from a federal judge in Florida who found the president effectively colluded with his own government in bringing a $10 billion suit against the IRS. Read more
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is warning that President Trump’s threat to withdraw Todd Blanche’s nomination to serve as attorney general and resubmit it in 2027 to circumvent GOP critics could backfire because control of the Senate could flip in November. Read more
You’re all caught up. See you Monday!
Close
The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Energy and Environment newsletter
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
The federal government is proposing potentially steep cuts to water used by California, Arizona and Nevada, a major step toward figuring out the management of the dwindling Colorado River.
© AP Photo/Brittany Peterson, File
The river provides water to states throughout the West, including drinking water and water for agricultural, industrial and municipal uses.
As the West becomes drier, figuring out how to manage the shrinking resource has been a challenge.
A final environmental impact statement released Friday by the federal government cuts to California, Arizona and Nevada, collectively known as the Lower Basin states of the Colorado River, of up to 3 million acre-feet per year.
That could be dramatically deeper than the 1.6 million acre-feet per year that the lower basin states themselves have proposed for the next two years.
Arizona’s Department of Water Resources said in a statement that a cut of 3 million acre feet per year “would devastate Arizona’s water users and its economy.”
However, the federal government has yet to release anticipated specific plans for managing the river over the next two years.
The Washington Post reported Friday that the forthcoming two-year plan is more in line with the cuts proposed by the states for the next two years.
Read more at TheHill.com.
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:
President Trump said Friday he doesn’t believe Iran was behind a cyberattack on Minnesota water systems and instead placed the blame on state officials for being “grossly incompetent.”
U.S. cybersecurity agencies are investigating a coordinated cyberattack on more than 30 municipal water facilities in Minnesota and the possibility of Iranian involvement.
The U.S. Department of Energy is harnessing the artificial intelligence boom in its bid to convert another Cold War-era uranium enrichment site, tapping private equity to fund a $100 billion data center complex that will include its own new natural gas and battery storage power plant in Kentucky.
News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:
Over 530 Local Laws Now Seek to Ban or Restrict Data Centers in U.S. (Heatmap)
Two key stories on The Hill right now:
The Trump administration on Friday appealed a ruling from a federal judge in Florida who found the president effectively colluded with his own government in bringing a $10 billion suit against the IRS. Read more
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is warning that President Trump’s threat to withdraw Todd Blanche’s nomination to serve as attorney general and resubmit it in 2027 to circumvent GOP critics could backfire because control of the Senate could flip in November. Read more
You’re all caught up. See you Monday!
Close
The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Energy and Environment newsletter
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
This lens runs the verified story through Cinnamon's AI — wired in the next step.
- {beacon} Energy Environment Energy Environment The Big Story DOI proposes potentially major water cuts The federal government is proposing potentially steep cuts to water used by…