Colorado River
A major river in the southwestern United States that supplies water to states including Arizona. In recent years, prolonged drought has led to reductions in water allocations.
Timeline (last 90 days)
Federal regulators cut Arizona's 30% share of water from the Colorado River.
Arizona relies mainly on the Central Arizona Project (CAP) to divert water from the Colorado River, and CAP's priority ranks after California and Nevada.
In the Colorado River system, water rights follow the "first in time, first in right" principle, agriculture holds large senior water rights, and emerging industries can typically obtain only low-priority water rights or rely on alternative water sources.
The amount of water Arizona draws from the Colorado River each year is about to be cut by more than one quarter.
The Colorado River is approximately 1,400 miles (about 2,250 kilometers) long and is a critical water source for Arizona and several other states in the western United States.
All Facts (4)
Federal regulators cut Arizona's 30% share of water from the Colorado River.
50%UnverifiedArizona relies mainly on the Central Arizona Project (CAP) to divert water from the Colorado River, and CAP's priority ranks after California and Nevada.
50%UnverifiedIn the Colorado River system, water rights follow the "first in time, first in right" principle, agriculture holds large senior water rights, and emerging industries can typically obtain only low-priority water rights or rely on alternative water sources.
50%UnverifiedThe Colorado River is approximately 1,400 miles (about 2,250 kilometers) long and is a critical water source for Arizona and several other states in the western United States.
50%