Leaders of California, Arizona and Nevada are criticizing the Trump administration’s proposals for water cutbacks along the Colorado River, urging it to take a different approach and avoid a court battle . AdvertisementThat agreement split the water among four upstream states — Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico — and those downstream — Nevada, Arizona and California. AdvertisementIf the Upper Basin states fail to deliver the required water, the Lower Basin states could make a “compact call” by suing, top Arizona water official Tom Buschatzke said in his letter to the Trump administration. One key complaint by California, Arizona and Nevada centers on Glen Canyon Dam , the reservoir that forms Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border. California’s Imperial Irrigation District, which uses the single largest share of Colorado River water, said the federal government needs to examine how water cuts would affect the Salton Sea.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 05, 2026 13:03 UTC