California, Arizona, and Nevada have agreed on a short-term, two-year plan to conserve Colorado River water through 2028 in an effort to stabilize the system.

The plan envisions more than 3.2 million acre-feet of water cutbacks through 2028, building on a prior proposal.

The upper watershed’s winter snowpack is only 22% of average this year, signaling very limited winter runoff into the reservoirs.

Climate change is cited as intensifying dry conditions and contributing to reduced river flows.

Reservoir levels are dire, with Lake Mead at 31% and Lake Powell at 24% capacity, raising concerns about hydroelectric reliability if levels fall further.

The Colorado River supports about 35 million people and 5 million acres of farmland, with water allocations established by the 1922 Colorado River Compact.

The agreement has been sent to the Trump administration for consideration after a deadlock among four other states on a longer-term framework.

Details on how the cuts will be split between urban use and agriculture have not yet been announced.