Seven States Reach Agreement On Water Use From Dwindling Colorado River

WINTERHAVEN, CALIFORNIA - MAY 26: An aerial view shows an irrigation ditch (C) carrying river water toward Quechan tribal land along the long-depleted Colorado River (L), as it flows between California (R) and Arizona, on May 26, 2023 near Winterhaven, California. The Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation and the neighboring Bard Water District currently have voluntary seasonal fallowing programs which compensate farmers to not grow crops on some of their fields in support of an effort to boost water levels at Lake Mead upstream. Tribal water technician Frank Venegas said, 'The river is part of our culture and our identity. It's who we are.' States along the drought-stricken Colorado River, a source of drinking water for 40 million people, reached an agreement earlier this week on water supply conservation with the Biden administration. California, Arizona and Nevada, states which make up the Lower Basin of the river, have agreed to save 3 million acre-feet of water by 2026, in exchange for $1.2 billion in federal funds. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)