U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

The proposal announced Monday isn’t final. It calls for cities, irrigation districts and Native American tribes to accept federal money — and in some cases volunteer — to use less water over the next three years.

Many boat ramps closed as the Colorado River drought pushed Powell to record lows. But abundant snowmelt is bringing some good, if temporary, news for both recreation enthusiasts and the local economy.

Cities, irrigation districts and Native American tribes in California, Arizona and Nevada will receive federal funding in exchange for temporarily using less water, but officials did not say how much funding individual users in the states would get.

Scientists say nearly half of the American West has emerged from drought following a winter marked by heavy snow and several massive rainstorms.

The Bureau of Reclamation is releasing a "high-flow experiment" from Glen Canyon Dam after forecasts showed a boost to Lake Powell.

The Interior Department's news analysis considers two different ways to force cuts to Arizona, Nevada and California. The two options mean varying impacts for cities, farms and people living in the Southwest.

The Biden administration released an environmental analysis Tuesday of competing plans for how seven Western states and tribes reliant on the dwindling Colorado River should cut their use — but declined to take a side on the best option.

A group of congress members from Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, California and Arizona is gathering to talk about the Colorado River and rally funding for Western water projects.

The funding comes as key reservoirs on the Colorado River hit record lows and booming Western cities and industries fail to adjust their water use to increasingly shrinking supplies.

California officials say the state was not consulted as others that use water from the Colorado River drafted a six-state agreement to propose cutbacks. Representatives from Arizona, Utah and Colorado disagree.

The Bureau of Reclamation is responding to a request from Utah and its neighbors and suspending the releases from the 3rd-largest reservoir on the Colorado River that were propping up Lake Powell.

Agriculture uses between 70% and 80% of the Colorado River’s water, and ideas for reducing that have long been contentious.