What the Colorado River Drought Means for California

The Colorado River basin and its two largest reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, are facing record-low water levels, and the seven states that rely on the water system can’t agree on what to do about it. Now the federal government may need to step in, with the Trump Administration proposing a plan that would cut 40 percent of the Colorado River’s water supply to Arizona, California and Nevada over the next decade. We’ll talk with environment journalists about what this could mean here in California. Guests: Camille von Kaenel, California environment reporter, Politico Luke Runyon, co-director, The Water Desk, Center for Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado, Boulder Celene Hawkins, director, Colorado River Program, The Nature Conservancy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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What the Colorado River Drought Means for California is an episode from KQED's Forum by KQED.

This episode is 54:44 long.

This episode was published on May 28, 2026.

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