A major Utah-Arizona reservoir on the Colorado River
The Lewis & Clark Regional Water System and related projects are expanding water capacity along the Missouri River. The base system now delivers 44 million gallons daily to 20 communities, with two expansions under way and a separate pipeline project to support growth in the Black Hills region. Together, the initiatives could cost tens of billions and serve hundreds of thousands more residents over the next 40–50 years.
Public lands policy moves under renewed scrutiny as the administration signals potential changes to long-standing access rules, with Senators and regulators weighing the impacts on conservation, recreation and energy development.
San Carlos Lake has been closed indefinitely after drought conditions and water releases from the Coolidge Dam caused a mass fish kill, destroying the lake’s fish population. Officials warn of health risks and are prohibiting fishing, harvesting and possession of fish until further notice.
A federal analysis shows Lake Powell could fall to 3,491 feet by March 2027, risking hydropower as the reservoir nears the minimum power pool. Authorities are moving water from Flaming Gorge to stabilize levels while talks among Western governors intensify.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has released a ten-year framework that would spare Colorado’s Lower Basin states from mandatory cuts for now, while allowing up to 3 million acre-feet of annual reductions through 2036 based on hydrology. The plan shifts decision-making to biennial reviews and emphasizes flexibility as temperatures and drought persist. California, Arizona and Nevada would share cuts and prioritize water rights, with impacts expected on agriculture, cost of water, and groundwater reliance.
The Bureau of Reclamation has proposed flexible water-use reductions for the Lower Basin while allowing deeper cuts in drier times, in a bid to keep the Colorado River reliable through 2036. The move comes as reservoirs Mead and Powell sit at record-lows and temperatures rise, threatening native species and power generation.