los angeles — In the absence of a long-term agreement on how to share a major water source in the western United States, three states say they will significantly reduce reservoir support in a short-term agreement after the war ends. The driest winter ever.
Arizona, California and Nevada announced A He plans this month to save up to 1 million acre-feet (44 billion cubic feet) of Colorado River water through 2028. This is in addition to reductions the three states and Mexico have already announced, bringing the total proposed savings to 3.2 million acre-feet (139 billion cubic feet), or enough water to serve more than 25 million people annually.
“We have the kind of crisis that last winter created,” Tom Bushatzky, Arizona’s chief negotiator, said earlier this week. “We need to do everything we can, and that’s what our plan does, to find a solution in the short term.”
Already, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says it will release more water, and earlier than usual, into severely depleted Lake Powell, one of the two largest reservoirs on the river and in the country, to maintain hydroelectric power.
The plan in Arizona, California and Nevada needs approval from federal officials and state lawmakers. However, the states described it as ambitious, far-reaching and with benefits for the entire river basin.
The river supports 40 million people in seven U.S. states, two Mexican states, and Native American tribes. Farmers also depend on it to irrigate millions of acres. About 155 hydroelectric facilities depend on it.
Some of the rules governing the water-sharing agreement expire this year, but negotiations have mostly collapsed between the states. It had been about four months since they had any substantive conversations. The states in the upper basin of the river — Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico — have Suggest a broker There is a need. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Reclamation is moving forward with a plan in case states don’t reach consensus in time.
Kevin Moran of the Environmental Defense Fund said he hopes the water reduction pledge will be a catalyst for a cooperative solution among states.
“The Colorado River is flowing,” he said. “At the eleventh hour we need strong, collaborative solutions to protect the health of the river.”
Nevada, Arizona, and California make up the lower basin of the river. Under their proposal, Nevada and Arizona would take about a third less water than they are entitled to annually from Lake Mead along their state borders. California, which has the largest and most important rights to water, will reduce its use by about 13%.
It has not been determined how these cuts will be implemented, but states say they will come by August.
The Central Arizona Project manages a significant portion of Arizona’s share, which is delivered via a 336-mile (540 km) canal system to 6 million people in central and southern Arizona. It also has a priority system. Farmers, cities, tribes and industry can be affected.
Most of the river’s water goes to agriculture. This is evident in the Imperial Irrigation District, the largest single user of river water, and where most of the country’s winter vegetables are grown.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which supplies water to 19 million people, depends on the river for about 20% of its supply. Reducing reliance on the Colorado River will prevent worse situations, but there is still a risk, board member Mark Gould said.
The Lower Basin Plan also relies on state and federal funding. Among water-saving measures, farmers can leave fields dry or replace thirsty crops such as alfalfa with drought-tolerant ones.
Low supplies in cities could contribute to higher water bills for residents and businesses, Gould said.
Chronic overuse is associated with dehydration and high temperatures Climate change It means there is less water in the river than has been divided among the states for more than 100 years.
Lake Powell and Lake Mead, reservoirs that are key indicators of the river’s health, are not healthy. Both are declining over time. If it drops below certain levels, it means that hydropower production will stop and water cannot be delivered to downstream users.
The Bureau of Reclamation recently announced plans to release up to a third of the water in Flaming Gorge Reservoir upstream of Lake Powell to ensure that doesn’t happen. Hydropower from Glen Canyon Dam that backs up Lake Powell serves more than 350,000 homes.
Reclamation officials said they are reviewing the lower basin proposal while emphasizing that they are looking for a broader agreement.
Becky Mitchell, Colorado’s lead negotiator, said the Lower Basin plan is a good first step but doesn’t do enough to protect Lake Powell.
Upper Basin countries want lower Basin countries to commit to avoiding litigation, which is unlikely.
“While lower-tier states have made progress, more is needed to protect the Colorado River system now and into the future,” she said in a statement. “These differences highlight the urgent need to get back together with the help of a mediator.”
The seven states are fighting over who should reduce water use and by how much during a drought that has lasted more than two decades.
Recently, the Upper Basin states approved federal officials’ plan to send nearly a third of the state’s annual water use to the Flaming Gorge area to protect Lake Powell. Water users with long-term water rights are also reducing their water use earlier in the season than usual, with some receiving only 14% or less of their annual allotment.
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