Nevada Sues Over Colorado River Plan, Citing Catastrophic Water Cuts

Nevada has sued the federal government over its ten-year Colorado River plan, arguing that proposed cuts could devastate the state's economy and water supply. The plan would require southern Nevada to lose over 70% of its allocation while other states face no mandatory cuts. Nevada officials say the river provides 90% of water for 76% of the state's population.

Nevada's lawsuit, filed in federal district court, argues the Bureau of Reclamation's ten-year strategy violates the "Law of the River"—the layered framework of compacts, court rulings, and agreements governing Colorado River allocations. The state contends the plan unfairly concentrates mandatory reductions on lower-basin states while upper-basin states like Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico face no required cuts. Wyoming's lead negotiator has already signaled opposition to any federal mandate imposing conservation measures on the upper basin, noting that state already endures involuntary, hydrology-driven reductions during drought periods.

The river system supports roughly 35 to 40 million people across seven states, 30 Native tribes, two Mexican states, and about 5 million acres of farmland. Nevada's allocation is the smallest by law among the seven basin states, yet the river supplies 90 percent of the water for 76 percent of the state's population, concentrating risk in the Las Vegas metropolitan area.