Arizona and neighboring states reached historic deal to protect the future of Colorado River

By Lauren Gilger
Published: Monday, May 22, 2023 - 11:05am
Updated: Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 9:56am

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Colorado River winds through Horseshoe Bend
Trevor Huxham/KJZZ
The Colorado River winds through Horseshoe Bend.

Big news Monday morning about the imperiled future of the Colorado River. 

After months of uncertainty and multiple failed agreements about the future of the Colorado River, Arizona, California and Nevada have reached an historic deal.

The deal calls for the U.S. government to pay various interests in these three states more than a billion dollars, provided they temporarily use less water about 3 million acre feet of water over the next three years. 

The Show spoke with Luke Runyon, who covers the Colorado River for KUNC in Colorado about what that means for all of us who live in these states.

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