The Brief The federal government has released a new blueprint outlining mandatory Colorado River water cuts for lower basin states through 2036. The agency that delivers Colorado River water to more than 6 million Arizonans is raising concerns about a new federal framework that could result in deeper water cuts for the state. Proposed Plan:After months of deadlocked negotiations among the seven Colorado River basin states, the federal government proposed mandatory short-term reductions for the Lower Basin states — Arizona, California and Nevada. AZ Could Take Big Hit:According to the Department of the Interior, the Lower Basin states could face shortages of up to 3 million acre-feet to protect critical dams. Related articleDig deeper:Arboleda said she supports the Lower Basin Proposal.