Western Water Magazine: An Era of New Partnerships on the Colorado River
The Water Education Foundation’s latest Western Water (Nov./Dec. 2013) is on the topic of “An Era of New Partnerships on the Colorado River.” Included below are excerpts from the issue, written by Sue McClurg:
Drought has been the ongoing story in the Colorado River Basin since 2000. Despite a couple years of average and above-average precipitation and runoff, the statistics are sobering:Reclamation officials say the chance of a shortage determination in the Lower Basin is low in the very short term – with a 0 percent chance in 2014. If drought conditions continue, there is a slightly higher chance (0 to 3 percent) in 2015; but, if conditions don’t improve, the chance increases to between 31 to 47 percent in 2016 and 51 to 57 percent in 2017-2018.
- 2000-2013 was the driest 14-year period in the 100-year historical record for the Colorado River Basin.
- Tree-ring reconstructions show more severe droughts have occurred over the past 1200 years (e.g., drought in the mid-1100s).
- Combined storage in Lakes Powell and Mead was 95 percent of capacity in 2000; it’s about 50 percent today.
- As of mid-2013, Lake Mead’s elevation was 1,105 feet above sea level; should the lake drop to 1,075 feet, a “first-ever” shortage condition as delineated by the 2007 Guidelines would be declared in the Lower Basin, reducing Arizona’s and Nevada’s annual allocation.
- The declining reservoir levels and inflow into Lake Powell in 2013 (July 2013 was only 13 percent of “normal”) required a reduction in deliveries from Lake Powell to the Lower Basin (and Lake Mead) in 2014, under the provisions of the 2007 Guidelines.
Continue reading by ordering the digital version of this issue of Western Water. Or, order the printed copy from this link.