Nevada filed a federal lawsuit on Monday to block a U.S. Department of the Interior plan that would slash Colorado River water deliveries to the state by 70% starting in 2027. The lawsuit, filed jointly by Nevada, the Colorado River Commission of Nevada, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, seeks to halt the implementation of the plan until its legal and technical shortcomings are resolved.
The Interior Department’s Record of Decision, finalized last Friday, mandates a 21% reduction in water deliveries to Arizona, California, and Nevada for two years beginning in 2027. After 2028, the cuts could nearly double, with Arizona and Nevada warning of severe economic consequences. The plan does not impose mandatory reductions on the four Upper Basin states—Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming—despite ongoing drought conditions that have depleted the river’s reservoirs to record lows.
Nevada’s Legal Challenge
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo called the plan a threat to the state’s survival, stating that southern Nevada’s already limited allocation could be slashed by more than 70%. The lawsuit argues that the plan violates the Law of the River, a set of interstate agreements governing Colorado River usage, and risks disproportionate harm to Nevada’s economy, which relies heavily on the river for water supply and power generation.
The Interior Department’s decision establishes a two-year framework for stability while states negotiate a longer-term solution. However, the plan’s allocation of conservation efforts has sparked contention, with Lower Basin states (Arizona, California, and Nevada) bearing the brunt of mandatory cuts while Upper Basin states face only voluntary conservation goals.
State Reactions and Broader Implications
Arizona officials have also indicated plans to challenge the mandatory reductions, raising the possibility of a prolonged legal battle that could reach the U.S. Supreme Court. The Colorado River, which supplies water to 1 in 10 Americans and generates power for 6 million people, has seen its reservoirs—Lake Mead and Lake Powell—drop to historic lows over the past 26 years due to prolonged drought, exacerbated by climate change.
The lawsuit marks the first legal challenge to the Interior Department’s plan, which was developed after three years of unsuccessful negotiations among the seven Colorado River Basin states. The states failed to agree on a new framework, particularly over the distribution of cuts, with Upper Basin states resisting mandatory reductions despite ongoing drought conditions.
Key Details of the Plan
- Start Date: 2027
- Initial Cut: 21% reduction for Arizona, California, and Nevada
- Potential Future Cuts: Up to 3 million acre-feet annually after 2028
- Upper Basin States: No mandatory reductions; only voluntary conservation goals
- Nevada’s Current Allocation: 300,000 acre-feet annually, which could be reduced to as low as 90,000 acre-feet under the plan
The lawsuit underscores the deep divisions among states over how to manage the Colorado River’s dwindling resources, with legal and political battles likely to intensify in the coming months.