“The preferred alternative establishes an adaptive decision framework to be used to develop operating guidelines designed to ensure reliable operations in the Colorado River Basin while maintaining the flexibility to respond to changing conditions over a 10-year period through 2036,” Interior said in a news release. “The framework also preserves the opportunity for the basin to continue working towards consensus agreements, and if successful, be incorporated into future operations.” “The Department has a responsibility to ensure the Colorado River system remains reliable and resilient for the millions of Americans, communities and industries that depend on it,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. “This framework provides the flexibility to respond to changing hydrologic conditions while preserving the opportunity for the basin states to continue working toward durable, consensus-based solutions.” The Washington Post noted that the plan requires Arizona, California and Nevada to curb their use of the water from the Colorado River by a combined 20 percent over the next two years — and that the states could ultimately face even larger cuts.