Average Colorado River consumptive use for the Lower Basin states has been steadily decreasing over the past decade. The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has released the 2023 Colorado River Accounting and Water Use Report, which states the most recent Colorado River consumptive use volumes for Arizona, California and Nevada.

In 2023, Lower Basin Colorado River consumptive use was the lowest since 1983. And last year, Arizona’s use was 1.89 million acre-feet (MAF), which is almost a 1 MAF reduction from its 2.8 MAF entitlement. 

“Congratulations to the water users in Arizona, California and Nevada,” says Brenda Burman, CAP general manager. “Pursuant to the Arizona v. California decree, the federal government has released the 2023 Colorado River Accounting and Water Use Report. This shows the lowest consumptive use in the Lower Basin in 40 years. Through mandatory reductions, extraordinary conservation, investments and sacrifice, we are demonstrating our ongoing commitment to protect all who rely on the Colorado River.”

The Colorado River Accounting and Water Use Report is generated in response to the Arizona v. California Supreme Court Decree issued in 1964 and is the official record of mainstem Lower Basin States’ Colorado River consumptive use. Reclamation carefully quantifies and verifies every aspect of water use and has determined that the Lower Basin states’ mainstem Colorado River use has been consistently below our apportionment over the past decade.