The U. S. Bureau of Reclamation has issued the first ever mandated cuts in Colorado River water.

The cuts come on the heels of a historic multi-year drought that has dropped water levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell , the largest reservoirs on the river , to record lows. The mandated cuts will affect major water users in Arizona and Nevada with Arizona losing about 8% of it's allocation and Nevada about 7%. Mexico will see a drop of about 5% of it's river allocation. California has more senior rights and will see less of a loss. Imperial Valley has some of the most senior rights to Colorado River water.