The U.S. government has proposed a plan that could cut water supplies from the Colorado River by up to 40% for Arizona, California and Nevada as the drought-stricken waterway's reservoirs continue to drop to critically low levels.

Details of the federal proposal were shared by a top Arizona water official at a state meeting on Wednesday. The plan comes after the seven states that draw water from the Colorado River system failed to reach an agreement on voluntary conservation measures.

The Colorado River system has been under severe strain due to prolonged drought conditions and overuse by the states that depend on it for water supplies. The river's major reservoirs have plunged to dangerously low levels, forcing federal intervention to prevent further depletion.

Arizona, California and Nevada would bear the brunt of the proposed cuts under the federal plan. These three lower basin states have been among the largest users of Colorado River water, which supplies drinking water to millions of residents and supports extensive agricultural operations.

The proposal represents a significant federal intervention in western water management, as officials attempt to address the ongoing crisis facing one of the region's most critical water sources. The plan would impose mandatory reductions after voluntary conservation efforts by the states proved insufficient to address the system's declining water levels.