The Lower Basin states of Arizona, California, and Nevada have agreed to save an additional 3 million acre-feet of Colorado River Water in the Lower Basin by the end of 2026, or about 13 percent of these states’ total allocation of water from the river.

In return, the federal government will compensate the three states for three-quarters of the water savings, or about $1.2 billion. The money will come from the not-intentional-but-ironically-named 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and is intended to pay Native American tribes, farmers, cities, and others who will voluntarily forgo their supplies.

More information about the above from our friends at Law 360 and Popular Science can be found HERE and HERE.