NYT
This Canal System Transformed Arizona. It’s Now in Jeopardy.
Sunday, August 23, 2026
The Roosevelt Dam and canal system built in Arizona over the past century relied on Colorado River water allocations secured through agreements dating to 1968. The 2024 Colorado River Interim Shortage Agreement designated Arizona for the first round of water reductions if the river's Lake Mead and Lake Powell fell below specified levels. The Trump administration announced in 2025 that water cuts to Arizona would begin, citing current reservoir levels. The state receives approximately 2.8 million acre-feet of Colorado River water annually under existing compacts, with agriculture accounting for roughly 80 percent of usage.
Original reporting: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/23/us/arizona-canals-colorado-river.html