With desert cities like Phoenix and Tucson bracing for their allotments of Colorado River water to be slashed dramatically, San Diego County’s water agency could for the first time sell some of its water to other states by drawing on its ample supplies from the nation’s largest desalination plant. The San Diego County Water Authority’s board unanimously approved an initial agreement last week to consider selling some of its water to Arizona and Nevada, where cities that depend on the over-tapped Colorado River are expected to face substantial cuts in water supplies. The approach would not involve sending desalinated water to other states, but rather selling some of San Diego County’s allotment of Colorado River water, which in turn would generate funds to increase output at the Carlsbad desalination plant.

Other Colorado River news:

• The Colorado Sun (Denver): How a new wave of water management called a “conservation pool” could provide a way forward for Colorado River users
• KJZZ (Phoenix): Arizona water leaders push back on ‘unacceptable’ draft Colorado River plans
• E&E News by Politico: Reviews are in: Everyone hates Interior’s Colorado River plan
• Colorado Politics (Denver): Gov. Polis, Upper Basin states criticize federal draft plan for managing the Colorado River
• Imperial Valley Press (El Centro, Calif.): California warns federal government: Proposed Colorado River plans may violate century-old water compact
• Colorado River Board of California: News release: Statement on post-2026 EIS comments
• The Land Desk: Blog: Glen Canyon Dam must be modified to avoid draconian water supply disruptions