Wednesday Top of the Scroll: California, other states reach impasse over Colorado River
California and other Western states that import water from the parched Colorado River failed to reach an agreement today on how to cut their use despite a deadline from federal officials. Six states presented the federal government with a proposal to slash the lower basin’s use by 2.9 million acre-feet from their historic allotments— including more than 1 million acre-feet from California, or 25% of its entitlements. But California, the largest user of Colorado River water, refused to sign onto the proposal and, instead, hours later issued its own — which mirrors its offer last fall to cut imports by 9%, or 400,000 acre feet. The impasse is over water delivered to Imperial Valley farmers and cities in six Southern California counties.
Related articles:
- Colorado River Board: California Water Agencies Submit Colorado River Modeling Framework to Bureau of Reclamation
- Desert Sun: California fires back at other Western states with its own Colorado River plan
- Los Angeles Times: California offers proposal on Colorado River crisis, disagreeing with six states
- NPR: California opposes the water use plan between the states that share Colorado River
- Washington Post: As the Colorado River dries up, states can’t agree on saving water
- Colorado Newsline: Colorado leaders hail drought ‘consensus’ among 6 of 7 Colorado River Basin states
- jfleck@inkstain: Deadpool Diaries - The numbers in the states’ two proposals
- The Spectrum: Utah signs on to Colorado River proposal as lawmakers pump out new bills
- Time: Opinion – How to Save the Colorado River and the American West
- Mercury News: Editorial: California has major stake in Colorado River water use fight
- Southern Nevada Water Authority: News release: Southern Nevada achieves major water conservation measures