Tuesday May 5, 2026
Pasadena Now —
A new proposal from California, Arizona and Nevada to reduce water use along the Colorado River is drawing renewed attention to long-term water planning in Pasadena and across Southern California.
Pasadena receives imported water through the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which draws in part from the Colorado River. The city also relies heavily on local groundwater supplies, making both regional and local water management strategies critical.
The three Lower Basin states submitted a short-term plan Friday to the U.S. Department of the Interior outlining how they would manage Colorado River supplies through 2028.
The proposal calls for at least 3.2 million acre-feet of water savings as the river’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, continue to face long-term strain.
Under the plan, the states would collectively reduce water use by 1.25 million acre-feet per year in 2027 and 2028, with California accounting for 440,000 acre-feet annually. The proposal also includes at least 700,000 acre-feet in additional conservation, with a goal of reaching 1 million acre-feet if federal funding is available.