Nevada sues federal government over Colorado River cuts

Nevada filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's plan to cut water supplies to lower basin states by about 20% over two years. The state argues that upper basin states are not required to contribute any cuts. The lawsuit is the first of likely many legal battles over the Colorado River, which serves 40 million people.

The lawsuit targets the Interior Department and Bureau of Reclamation, which manage the river's two main reservoirs. Nevada's governor noted his state would absorb over 70% of the cuts while upper basin states face none. The dispute centers on the 1922 compact, which allocated more water rights than the system actually holds.

The river spans 1,450 miles from the Rocky Mountains into Mexico, supporting 40 million people and generating roughly $1.4tn in economic activity. The Bureau's control over Lake Mead and Lake Powell gives it greater authority over lower basin supplies, while upper basin states argue their headwaters sourcing exempts them from mandatory reductions.