Lake Mead and the rest of the Colorado River system are shrinking rapidly. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has called for new conservation measures, asking states to conserve a tremendously large amount of water, and giving them a 60-day timeline to formulate a plan for those reductions.
Ted Wood/The Water Desk
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has signed legislation that will provide $1.2 billion over three years to boost long-term water supplies for the desert state and implement conservation efforts that will see more immediate effects.
The Republican signed the legislation Wednesday.
It is viewed as the most significant since the state implemented a groundwater protection plan in 1980.
Climate change and a nearly 30-year drought forced the move, which comes as Arizona already faces cutbacks in its Colorado River water supply and more loom.
A $1 billion fund will help get new water supplies into Arizona, including a possible desalination plant Ducey has touted.
Another $200 million will go to rural and urban conservation efforts.
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