July 31 (UPI) -- Federal officials on Friday released an updated framework for the Colorado River, requiring Arizona, California and Nevada to significantly reduce their water use in the coming years.

Three western U.S. states would take less water from the Colorado River under a federal proposal released Friday to stave off a crisis in the beleaguered waterway.

Arizona, California, and Nevada would take less water from the Colorado River under a federal proposal to stave off a crisis in the river.