Feds publish possible playbook for managing dwindling Colorado River supply
The federal agency overseeing the water supply for tens of millions of people in the West has published a list of options for how it might manage the drought-stricken Colorado River in the future. The five proposals range from taking “no action” to a scenario that might result in water cuts to the lower basin states of California, Nevada and Arizona. One alternative developed in partnership with conservation groups would incentivize states and water users to proactively conserve the river. But the Interior Department is not identifying a preferred option, and the scenarios outlined in hundreds of pages of documents will only move forward if all seven states that depend on the water fail to agree on their own conservation plan soon.
Other Colorado River negotiations news:
- Aspen Public Radio (Colo.): Feds want states to weigh in on Colorado River plans before it’s too late
- KTNV (Las Vegas, Nev.): What will happen to the Colorado River?
- ABC4 (Salt Lake City, Utah): 5 alternatives for Colorado River water released; Utah Commission says they will protect Utah water users
- Engineering News-Record: Reclamation draft review maps future operations for Colorado River dams
- Imperial Valley Press (El Centro, Calif.): Opinion: Imperial Valley water security
