If Colorado River compact heads to Supreme Court, ‘everybody loses,’ experts say
The drama engulfing the seven states in the Colorado River Basin could take another, more perilous, turn in a few weeks. Water experts are warning that by October, the river’s flow may cross a critical threshold at Lee’s Ferry, a bend in the river in Arizona that has been a bellwether of the river’s health for decades. The 1922 Colorado River Compact — the river’s foundational agreement — states that the river’s flow must stay above a certain level at Lee’s Ferry in order to provide enough water for downstream states. If the flow falls below that point, which some experts equate to a “tripwire,” it could trigger prolonged and expensive litigation at the Supreme Court, a turning point that could have terrible consequences for basin states.
Other Colorado River management news:
- KJZZ (Phoenix): Colorado River cuts could force ‘unprecedented’ low water use for Arizona, new study finds
- Arizona Daily Star (Tucson): Colorado River cuts won’t be as big as they seem — here’s why
- Payson Roundup (Ariz.): Opinion: Lake Powell is proving John Wesley Powell right
- University of Arizona: Blog: Water wisdom following the new Colorado River framework
- John Fleck at Inkstain: Blog: A deep dive into the data on Lower Colorado River water use
- The Land Desk: Blog: Colorado River chronicles
