With the Colorado River in crisis and reservoir levels continuing to decline, some California water agencies are planning to significantly reduce the amount they take from the river starting next year. California is entitled to use 4.4 million acre-feet of Colorado River water per year, more than any other state. California’s pledge remains far from the goal set by federal officials, however, and the state’s water agencies will likely continue to receive pressure to accept larger cuts. But managers of California water agencies said they hope their voluntary proposal will help catalyze water-saving contributions by others across the Colorado River Basin to prevent the reservoirs from bottoming out. In recent years, the Metropolitan Water District has also been paying some farmers who agree to leave their fields dry and unplanted.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 06, 2022 21:55 UTC