Four Western states are paying farmers and ranchers tens of millions of dollars this year to conserve water as part of a short-term plan to save water from the Colorado River.
Rules to boost the domestic economy now apply to broadband and water equipment. Delays and higher costs can be part of the trade-off.
Facing a prolonged megadrought, Western states must prep for huge water-use cuts.
The seven states have until late January to agree on massive water conservation measures or the feds say they’ll impose cuts.
On of the state’s major sources of water, the Colorado River, has fallen to historic lows.
Several states in the West had 60 days to figure something out, and the government hasn’t offered much guidance.
The seven states can’t agree on who should make cuts where. Now the federal government might make those choices for them.
