arizona drought

Weather officials say hefty snowfalls that fed the Colorado River in recent weeks may slow the water level decline of Lake Mead on the Nevada-Arizona border.

The U.S. Drought Monitor declared more than 27% of Arizona – including portions of Coconino and Yavapai counties – are currently experiencing no drought.

The word “crisis” ended a Colorado River conference that drew representatives from Southwest U.S. states, tribes and Mexico to Las Vegas this week.

More questions than answers are surfacing at a conference in Las Vegas about what to do about projected shortages of Colorado River water relied upon by seven U.S. states, Native American tribes and Mexico.

The Gila River Indian Community in Arizona announced plans to conserve a significant amount of its water supplies. That will be used to prop up water levels in Lake Mead.

The Gila River Indian Community in central Arizona has withdrawn from an agreement that keeps more water in Lake Mead. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny reports, the Community cites the “complete lack of progress” among the states trying to negotiate water cuts to deal with the drought.

Dire consequences could result if states, cities and farms across the American West cannot agree on how to cut the amount of water they draw from the Colorado River.

People in Arizona and Nevada won’t face bans on watering their lawns or washing their cars despite more Colorado River water shortages.

The finding marked the fifth time since May that remains had been uncovered as Western drought forces the shoreline of Lake Mead to retreat.

Seven states in the U.S. West — including Arizona — are facing a deadline from the federal government to come up with a plan to use substantially less Colorado River water in 2023.