New Colorado River Plans Outline Reduction in Water Supply
Department of Interior Announces Plans for Colorado River Water
The Department of the Interior announced that representatives from the seven Colorado River Basin states have agreed to a proposal that would conserve at least 3 million-acre-feet (maf) of system water through 2026, when the current guidelines are set to expire.
2.3 maf will be compensated through funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, which is also supporting efforts to increase water conservation, increase efficiency of aquafers, and prevent the Colorado River System's reservoirs from falling to historically low levels. The remaining 0.7 maf will be conserved through voluntary, uncompensated reeducations by the Lower Basin states.
"There are 40 million people, seven states, and 30 Tribal Nations who rely on the Colorado River Basin for basic services such as drinking water and electricity. Today's announcement is a testament to the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to working with states, Tribes and communities throughout the West to find consensus solutions in the face of climate change and sustained drought," said Secretary Deb Haaland.
In August 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation declared a Tier 1 Colorado River shortage due to the projection of Lake Mead's water level, a stunning 1,075 feet above sea level. According to a Nevada ASLA newsletter, longer periods of drought leads the soil to absorb more than it typically would and in turn strips surrounding reservoirs of water supply.
Tier 1 shortage reductions are determined by the priority system according to the Secretary of the Interior and currently yearly allocation in Arizona has been reduced by 512,000-acre-feet while Nevada's has been reduced by 21,000-acre-feet.
The Nevada ASLA newsletter states that the Bureau of Reclamation is likely to announce a move to Tier 2 in August that will go into effect in 2023.
This landmark temporary deal prevents a crisis after the nearly 27-year drought in the region and allows western states to continue to receive water after extensive efforts were made between the states to come to an agreement.
If the deal had not been made by May 30, the Department of the Interior would have moved forward with the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) that was published last month would have considered three alternatives including, No Action Alternative which includes the implementation of existing agreements that control Glen Canyon and Hoover Dams, Action Alternative 1 models operational changes to both Glen Canyon Dam and Hoover Dam.
According to the Bureau of Reclamation, "Action Alternative 1 includes assumptions for reduced releases from Glen Canyon Dam as well as assumptions for additional Lower Colorado River Basin shortages based on the concept of priority. Action Alternative 2 is similar to Action Alternative 1, in how it models operational changes to both Glen Canyon Dam and Hoover Dam. Action Alternative 2 includes assumptions for reduced releases from Glen Canyon Dam as well as assumptions for additional Lower Colorado River Basin reductions that are distributed in the same percentage across all Lower Basin water users."
The ultimate goal of the deal is to sign a record of decision that would revise the 2007 rules.
