More money is headed to farmers in the Colorado River Basin, paying them to not grow as many crops and send the water they save downstream. During a special meeting on Monday, the Colorado River Authority of Utah’s board voted to approve almost $895,000 in funds to some agriculture producers under the “Demand Management Pilot Program.” It is estimated the funds would save as much as 2,500-acre feet of water. This is the second year of the program, which has spent nearly $5 million total. … Politically, the program can be seen as a goodwill gesture by the state of Utah as negotiations continue over the future of the Colorado River.

Other Colorado River Basin news:

• New Mexico News Connection: Colorado River negotiators face new deadline to divvy up water
• KJZZ (Phoenix): Arizona Board of Regents approves $3M grant to strengthen Arizona agriculture amid water cutbacks