Lake Mead could soon benefit from the nation’s largest desalination plant thanks to an agreement that would allow water agencies in Nevada, Arizona, and California to explore ways to exchange water supplies across the drought-challenged Colorado River Basin. On Wednesday, the federal government and water agencies in the three states signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a framework for an interstate pilot program that could let agencies in Arizona and Nevada tap San Diego’s Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant. … The plan would not directly send desalination-treated water to Lake Mead, but would allow “paper” transfers and exchanges between states using existing infrastructure and credits.

Related articles:

• The New York Times: Arizona and Nevada agree to trade for desalinated Pacific Ocean water
• KJZZ (Phoenix): Desalinated ocean water gets one step closer to helping Arizona with drought troubles
• Las Vegas Review-Journal: Nevada may ease Colorado River worries with California ocean desalination deal
• KLAS (Las Vegas): Moving water ‘on paper’ at heart of new 3-state agreement on Colorado River
• Times of San Diego: Agencies in 3 states sign MOU to share water across dry Colorado River basin
• The Desert Review (Brawley, Calif.): New Colorado River water exchange framework signed, raising questions for Imperial Valley agriculture
• Bureau of Reclamation: News release: Reclamation advances effort to expand water supply tools for challenged Colorado River Basin
• San Diego Water Authority: News release: Southwest water leaders sign MOU to explore framework for interstate exchanges