For the first time, Grand County can call upon a water right to increase streamflows in the Colorado River while providing environmental, agricultural and recreational benefits to the county. Under a new Operational Framework agreement, Grand County can release up to 10,000 acre-feet, or about 3.3 billion gallons, of water annually from the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, according to a joint news release from Grand County and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (Northern Water). Grand County plans to use the water to increase flows in the Colorado River during periods of low water and high temperatures, according to Grand County Communications Director Christine Travis. Higher flows help cool the river and protect aquatic life.

Other Colorado River management news:

• Popular Mechanics: Hoover Dam is losing power. Inside the ‘slowest-moving train wreck in history’
• KJZZ (Phoenix): Lake Mead, nation’s largest reservoir, hits record low
• NVBEX: Lower Basin states concerned about Colorado River dams focus
• Bond Buyer: Federal government’s Colorado River plan draws downstream brickbats
• The Mesa Tribune (Tempe, Ariz.): Mesa says it’s prepared for deep Colorado River cuts
• Gilbert Sun News (Tempe, Ariz.): Town studying impact of feds’ Colorado River proposal
• The Journal (Cortez, Colo.): Southwest Colorado water basins have a new representative