Seven US states rely on the water in the Colorado River. Those seven states are divided into upper basin states — Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming — and lower basin states — Arizona, Nevada, and California. In 1922, the American southwest was little more than an arid area with ... [continued]

A new, two-year plan will force deep water usage cuts in California, Nevada and Arizona. Four other states on the River are unaffected.

While the cuts are considerable, they are better than the worst-case scenario the federal government proposed in July.