As reservoir levels continue to plummet at the end of another dismal water year, some agricultural water users are asking Colorado lawmakers to consider a bill next session that would make it easier for them to get credit for conserving water. It would be the next step in creating a conservation pool in Lake Powell that the Upper Basin states could use to protect against water scarcity. Over the past decade, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming have dabbled in programs that pay willing participants to use less water on a temporary basis. … Changes to state laws would be needed to allow state officials to shepherd conserved water into a Lake Powell pool. 

Other Colorado River Basin news:

• The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, Colo.): Denver Water supports push by state delegation in Congress for Shoshone, other water funds​
• Audubon: Blog: New Audubon science doubles estimates of shorebird use in the Colorado River Delta