Environmental & Energy
Aug. 3, 2026
Colorado River plan sets stage for wave of water lawsuits
The Trump administration's proposal to sharply reduce Colorado River water deliveries to California, Arizona and Nevada while sparing Upper Basin states is expected to trigger legal challenges over federal authority, water rights and how the shrinking supply is divided.
Like water flowing downstream, the Trump administration's announcement Friday morning that it would curtail Colorado River water for Arizona, Nevada and California could cause a cascade of litigation.
The plan would sharply cut water supplies to the three Lower Basin states while sparing the Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Litigation could begin with challenges to the administration's authority to order the cuts, with later cases coming as do...
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