3 states would face Colorado River water cuts under federal plan

Arizona, California, and Nevada would take less water from the Colorado River under a federal proposal to stave off a crisis in the river.

• Jul 31

Colorado River reservoirs hit record lows as government threatens major cuts

It's a moment of reckoning in the drought-stricken West as seven states can't agree on how to share the rapidly shrinking water supply.

• Jul 26

States relying on Colorado River face cuts

The Colorado River, a lifeline for the American West, is now a line in the sand dividing seven states that can't agree how to share the shrinking water supply. After years of failed talks, the federal government is now poised to impose sweeping cuts. Jonathan Vigliotti reports.

• Jul 26
• 2:23

Colorado River crisis could force drastic water measures across the West

Approximately 40 million people across the West depend on the Colorado River for water every single day. But the region could soon face drastic measures as the river keeps shrinking.

• May 16

Colorado River in crisis

The Colorado River is on the brink of disaster. Its water is shared by seven states, which is a big part of the problem. Jonathan Vigliotti reports.

• May 16
• 1:54

States miss Colorado River deal deadline

After two years of negotiations, seven western states have missed the latest federal deadline to reach an agreement on sharing the Colorado River's dwindling water supply. California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico had until this past Saturday to reach a consensus. CBS News national environmental correspondent David Schechter has more.

• Feb 17
• 3:01

Report: Water recycling could help crisis

Seven western states rely on the Colorado River Basin, but drought and climate change are causing water shortages in the region. Recycling treated wastewater is a proven way to ease pressure on the Colorado River, but a new report finds that many states are failing to take advantage of it. Mark Gold, one of the UCLA authors of that report and director of Water Scarcity Solutions at the Natural Resources Defense Council, joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.

• Apr 3, 2025
• 3:38

Mexico lagging on water commitments to U.S.

80 years ago, the United States and Mexico signed a treaty that would have the two countries trade large amounts of water for regions in need. But Mexico is falling behind on its side of the bargain. Texas state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon joined CBS News to explain this issue.

• Aug 22, 2024
• 4:59

Body recovered after man, dog vanish with raft in Grand Canyon

Park officials said Thomas Robison was believed to have attempted to travel down the river with his dog on a wooden raft.

• May 14, 2024

Man, dog vanish in Grand Canyon after apparent homemade raft trip

A photo of the raft the man is believed to have used shows just a few long planks assembled together.

• Apr 25, 2024

Three states near deal over Colorado River

California, Arizona and Nevada may be on the brink of a major agreement to conserve water from the Colorado River, according to the Washington Post. Conrad Swanson, environmental and political reporter at the Denver Post, explains the issues at the heart of the deal. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the state of Colorado was a part of the then-pending agreement. It was not.

• May 18, 2023
• 4:38

Colorado River Basin plans for a drier future

Seven states and 30 Native American tribes lying in the Colorado River Basin prepare to make hard choices as water levels plummet due to a 23-year drought. Bill Whitaker reports.

• Jul 30, 2023
• 13:50

Arizona to halt some new home construction due to water supply issues

A government report released earlier this month revealed Arizona's booming population will outgrow its drought-stricken water supply if action isn't taken.

• Jun 16, 2023

Phoenix limits construction amid water crisis

Arizona is limiting new construction around Phoenix as the state's water supply continues to dwindle. State officials say there isn't enough groundwater for housing construction that's already been approved. CBS News senior national and environmental correspondent Ben Tracy has more.

• Jun 2, 2023
• 3:58

Possible deal for Colorado River

After months of tense negotiations, several western states that rely on the Colorado River are proposing significant cuts to their own water supplies to keep the river from going dry. Senior national and environmental correspondent Ben Tracy tells us how three states that use the majority of the water plan to use a lot less.

• May 23, 2023
• 2:04

3 states reach deal on Colorado River water

Three of the seven Colorado River states - California, Arizona and Nevada - have agreed to cut their water usage by 3 million acre-feet by 2026. Some 40 million people and more than two dozen Native American tribes depend on the Colorado River. CBS News senior national and environmental correspondent Ben Tracy breaks down the details of the historic deal.

• May 22, 2023
• 3:56

Proposal aims to cut use of drought-stricken Colorado River

The Colorado River proposal from Arizona, California and Nevada aims to conserve at least 3 million acre-feet of water through the end of 2026.

• May 22, 2023

Western states reach deal on saving Colorado River

California, Arizona and Nevada have reached a deal to reduce use of the Colorado River to keep the key reservoir from running dry.

• May 22, 2023
• 0:22

California to fill 100% of water requests from cities and farms after wet winter

While this forecast is good news for cities and farmland across the state, water officials say Californians "should continue to use water wisely to help the state adapt to a hotter, drier future."

• Apr 20, 2023

U.S. proposes water cuts for Colorado River

The federal government is one step closer to being able to force multiple states to reduce their water intake from the Colorado River for the first time in U.S. history. Seven drought-ravaged Western states have not been able to reach a deal to cut their use of the dwindling river, which serves as a crucial water and power source for roughly 40 million people. Ben Tracy has the story.

• Apr 12, 2023
• 2:16

White House weighing Colorado River dispute

After months of deadlocked negotiations between state governments over how to address the shrinking water supply of the Colorado River, the Biden administration released an analysis of two competing plans for cutbacks. Politico reporter Annie Snider joins CBS News to examine the details.

• Apr 11, 2023
• 5:49

In Colorado River talks, still no agreement about water cuts

The Biden administration has evaluated how seven Western states that are reliant on the dwindling water supply from the Colorado River could dramatically cut their water use in the basin.

• Apr 11, 2023

Las Vegas residents could face tap limits to limit water usage

If approved, the "worst case scenario" plan would make Nevada the first state to give a water agency legal jurisdiction over the amount of residential use.

• Mar 13, 2023

Investors eye water rights amid drought

As the Western megadrought continues, investors have been buying up land to secure the water rights that go along with them. Ben Tracy takes a look.

• Jan 31, 2023
• 2:52

Is water the new oil?

The Colorado River supplies water to 40 million people throughout the west but its once-mighty flow is shrinking due to a megadrought. Some western farmers and regional officials are concerned about the possibility of "water speculation" igniting a new round of conflict in a time of changing climate. Ben Tracy reports.

• Jan 31, 2023
• 7:43

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