Water authorities across several southwestern states have implemented mandatory rationing measures as reservoir levels fall to their lowest point in over a decade.
Agricultural users face the steepest cuts under the current allocation formula, with some farmers reporting they will fallow a significant share of their land this season.
“There is no version of this that doesn’t hurt. The question is how the hurt gets distributed,” one water district manager said.
State officials are reviewing longer-term allocation agreements that have not been substantially updated in decades, though any changes would require multi-state negotiation.
