U.S. states struggle to share dwindling waters of Colorado River

The Colorado River, which provides drinking water to 40 million people in seven U.S. states, is drying up, straining a water distribution pact amid
the worst drought in 12 centuries, exacerbated by climate change.
California split from the six states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming on Tuesday in the face of a U.S. government deadline to negotiate their own supply cuts or face possible mandatory cutbacks by the federal government.
“What happened today was a step forward,” said Kevin Moran, a water policy specialist at the Environmental Defense Fund.
“Six of the seven basin states are playing catch-up to reduce water use from the Colorado River, which is absolutely critically needed after 20 years of drought and the impacts of climate change,” Moran told Reuters.