US Seeks Colorado River Drought Plan From States by Feb. 1

California, Arizona, Navajo Nation and other US states and tribes reliant on the Colorado River should aim to reach agreement by Feb.1 on slashing water use in response to devastating drought, the US Interior Dept’s David Palumbo says.

• No firm deadline has been set for states to forge a consensus but “from a practical standpoint,” the government needs to see a plan by the end of January: Palumbo, deputy commissioner of operations at the Bureau of Reclamation, says in interview
• The US government will be ready to mandate water cuts by next summer if needed in absence of a deal, ...