‘No Winners’ Seen if States Launch Water War Amid Megadrought

The seven states using Colorado River water likely will avoid an epic legal showdown over the most severe water cuts amid the region’s megadrought—but legal analysts say California, Nevada, and Arizona in particular will face heavy burdens to conserve.

The need to cut water use is so urgent that there’s not enough time to wait for a legal showdown to play out. If the dispute sparks litigation, it’s likely to originate at the Supreme Court—the typical venue for interstate water conflicts—and take years or even decades to resolve.

“None of the states relish the prospect of major litigation, which would ...