Gilbert is bracing for deeper reductions to its Colorado River allocation in the years ahead, following the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s August release of its 24-month study on the river’s future.

Gilbert Water Resources Manager Lauren Hixson said the study is the annual guidepost for what municipalities can expect in deliveries the following year.

“That dictates what happens next year,” she said.

For 2025, the news is not dire, but the protections that have cushioned Arizona cities under the 2019 drought contingency plan will soon expire.

“Next year's not of grave concern just because it's still under the 2019 drought contingency plan, and there's been a lot of propping up the reservoir through leaving water in Lake Mead over the last several years,” Hixson said. “But it's really 2027

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