In December 2007, new rules were signed on how to manage the
Colorado River during drought. Drought remains, but above-average
runoff has helped to ease some shortage fears as officials go
about putting the new rules into action. This issue of River
Report provides an overview of steps underway to implement the
new guidelines to better manage Colorado River water not only
during drought, but over the full range of reservoir operations,
stretching existing supplies and finding ways to augment what is
often described as the most controversial and regulated river in
the United States.
This issue of River Report, “Preparing for an Uncertain
Future: Climate Change and the Colorado River,” focuses on the
potential impacts of climate change in the Colorado River Basin
and the programs agencies are enacting to address concerns about
water supplies. Much of the information is from the Foundation’s
biennial Colorado River Symposium held in September 2007.
“Urban Growth and Water: States Seek New Supplies”
The Colorado River system has proved to be remarkably resilient
during this dry period, but the ongoing drought, continuing
population growth and uncertainties about climate change have
prompted water officials throughout the basin to seek innovative
ways to stretch current water supplies and in some cases tap into
new sources of supply. This issue of River Report explores the
issue of water supply, water demand and forecasted growth in the
Colorado River Basin.
“Controlling Salt: Crafting a Restoration Plan for the Salton
Sea”
This issue of River Report discusses the important role the sea
plays in the ecosystem, the challenges of restoration and
provides an overview of the eight alternatives to restore the
sea.
“Modifying Management of the Colorado River: Assembling the
Details”
This issue of River Report provides an update on the ongoing work
to craft a program to modify the management of the Colorado River
during future droughts. A final plan is to be adopted by Dec. 31,
2007.
COMMON CAUSE: Border Water Issues Unite, Divide U.S., Mexico This
issue of River Report focuses on water and environmental issues
facing the U.S. and Mexico in the Colorado River Basin drainage
they share. The basis for the article stemmed from a panel
discussion Water Education Foundation’s Colorado River Symposium
Sept. 28-30 in Santa Fe, N.M.
“The Lower Colorado River MSCP: Protecting Endangered Species and
Water Project Operations.” This issue of River Report
provides an overview of the ambitious The Lower Colorado River
Multi Species Conservation Program, and its dual goals of
restoring the habitat and native species of the watershed while
ensuring continued water project operations.
THE CONTINUING COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT: Political Tensions Rise as
Reservoir Levels Drop. This issue of River Report analyzes how
the continuing Colorado River Basin drought has heightened
tensions between Upper Basin and Lower Basin states over issues
such as shortage criteria, and how they fit within the existing
Law of the River.
This issue of River Report looks at the extent and effects of the
current drought in the Colorado River Basin as it endures the
driest period in its recorded history. The article provides an
overview of the grim water picture and examines the steps being
taken or considered by the Interior Department and various
stakeholders to cope with the drought.
This issue of River Report explores the issue of salinity on the
Colorado River, Upper Basin control efforts and the Lower Basin’s
dilemma over the Yuma Desalting Plant. Some of the content for
this article came from the Foundation’s September 2003 Colorado
River Symposium. The Foundation will publish the full written
proceedings of the symposium, which was tape-recorded, in 2004.
River Report Summer 2002 Individual Issue – Growth is inevitable
part of living in the Western United States. Numerous water
projects were created around the Colorado River Basin after the
turn of the 20th Century, primarily to sustain irrigation for the
thousands of settlers enticed to farm the region. However, as
population centers including Phoenix, Denver and Los Angeles have
exploded in the past 50 years, so has the need for water to meet
urban demands.
A DEADLINE PASSED: WITH CALIFORNIA’S 4.4 PLAN SEEMINGLY ON THE
ROCKS, WHAT’S NEXT? For the past seven years, water interests in
southern California, including Imperial Irrigation District
(IID), Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD), Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California (MWD) and San Diego County Water
Authority (SDCWA), along with the Department of the Interior
(Interior) and its water management arm, the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation (Bureau), have been engaged in an effort to develop
the 4.4 Plan. The Dec.
WHAT’S AWASH IN THE WASH? Combating Water Quality Problems in the
Las Vegas Wash This issue of River Report discusses the problems
with Las Vegas Wash water quality issues related to perchlorate
contamination, the primary ingredient in rocket fuel that has
been shown to cause thyroid problems in humans, sediment erosion
and the effect on Lake Mead – and the potential effect on other
Colorado River water users downstream. It also details what steps
are being taken to remedy these problems.
PEACE ON THE GILA – The Gila River in Arizona, like most of the
water sources in the Southwest, is being claimed by many parties.
By law, the oldest of these rights belong to American Indian
tribes with lands along its banks. The largest of these tribal
claims is by the Gila River Indian Community and rather than
litigate in courts, the parties involved have arranged a water
rights settlement.
Glen Canyon Dam at a Glance Forever changed, just how is the
river adjusting to this dam? Behind Glen Canyon Dam in Page,
Arizona is the second-largest man-made lake in the United States:
Lake Powell. Glen Canyon Dam serves in a number of capacities for
those dependent on it, including flood protection, water supply
and electrical generation. There is, however, a flip side to the
benefits: alteration to the downstream environment. Historically,
since its conception in the early 20th Century, Glen Canyon Dam
has been the center of controversy.
Will Animas-La Plata Become Reality? For over 30 years, the
decision to build (or not build) the Animas-La Plata (ALP)
project has been undecided. Located near the Four Corners region
of the Southwest at the intersection of Colorado, New Mexico,
Utah and Arizona, this project has undergone may revisions in
that period of time. According to federal authorities, the
purpose of ALP is to settle the water rights claims of two
Colorado River Indian Tribes, the Southern Ute and the Ute
Mountain Ute.
Governance in the Colorado River Basin Could a new commission
improve management of the river? The notion of forming an
official stakeholder commission to better govern intricate
Colorado River issues is a subject that has been raised
throughout the basin. In gist, such a commission would be
basin-wide. But who would comprise the group and to what extent
would they have power are two of the big unknowns in the
discussions.
Deciding About the Colorado River Delta takes a look at what is
arguably one of the biggest environmental issues in the Colorado
River Basin: the Mexican delta. Home to hundreds of species of
birds and numerous endangered species, the Delta has become a
point of interest because of its valuable wetland and estuary
habitat. However, since the damming of the Colorado River, water
that used to flow into the Delta no longer does except in very
wet years. Environmentalists have been pushing for the U.S. to
increase flood flows to Mexico in order to support the habitat.
Saving For a Dry Day profiles the efforts to develop the Arizona
water bank and the “Offstream Storage of Colorado River Water and
Interstate Redemption of Storage Credits in the Lower Division
States,” the criteria designed to allow for interstate water
banking. The article includes historical information as it
pertains to the Law of the River and the Central Arizona Project
– critical elements to the proposal – as well as the Secretary’s
role. It also examines the Upper Basin perspective on the
proposal and environmental and Tribal concerns.
Angling for Answers: The Quest to Save the Colorado’s Endangered
Fish examines the recovery efforts being taken to save the
Colorado River’s four native endangered fish species: the
razorback sucker, the bonytail, the humback chub and the Colorado
pikeminnow. The article also examines reasons for the decrease in
populations and the efforts being taken through both the Upper
Colorado River Recovery Implementation Program, as similar
program on the San Juan River and the recovery efforts in the
lower reaches of the river in the Multi-Species Conservation
Program.
