Lake Mead, near the Arizona-Utah state line, is where the shortage was declared. Arizona farmers are being hit with water cuts as a result. Millions of Americans rely on the Colorado River system for water and hydroelectric power. Bureau of Reclamation statistics show Lake Mead is just 35% full.

A major drought has forced farmers and Indigenous tribes to compete for water in a situation nobody ever wanted.

Both the Bureau of Reclamation and Department of Agriculture announced monetary assistance for the Klamath Project on Wednesday, but the funding comes in lieu of water for irrigation.