Despite a last-minute frenzy of deal-making, the federal government announced that it will begin taking “protective actions” on the Colorado River, where a long-running drought has put the water supply for 40 million people at risk.
While most states had agreed, California and Arizona couldn’t finalize the agreement in time.
“We are close,” said U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman.
Interior holds “broad authority,” according to Commissioner Burman, to make decisions on the lower Colorado River.
Arizona and Nevada’s water supplies would be cut back then, but California’s would not, because it holds the oldest water rights on the river.
Under the states’ still unratified drought deal, California and other states would begin reducing their water use before currently required, in order to preserve water levels in Lake Mead.
The Colorado River supplies millions of people in Southern California, mostly through the Metropolitan Water District, as well as several major farming districts.
But some farming communities saw little reason to sign on, since they have the most secure water rights to the river.
As the deadline passed, two parties, Arizona and California’s Imperial Irrigation District, had yet to agree to the plan.
In a statement, Imperial Irrigation District General Manager Henry Martinez said the district "will continue to work diligently to reach agreement" and it "expects the work on the DCP (drought contingency plan) to be completed promptly."