A federal water distribution and management plan may come out soon regarding the Colorado River, according to Doug Kenney, the director of the Western Water Policy Program at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Background
The Colorado River provides water for agricultural irrigation, hydropower, recreation, and municipal supplies throughout the Southwest. Its Upper Basin consists of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico, while the Lower Basin is made up of California, Arizona, and Nevada.
The river runs through seven states and empties into northwestern Mexico. The U.S. Department of the Interior, alongside its Bureau of Reclamation, owns and operates key infrastructure along the Colorado River, including the Hoover Dam and the Glen Canyon Dam.
Current Situation
The Colorado River’s current operating rules are set to expire this year, and the seven states are currently without an agreement on how to manage, operate, and allocate resources from the two main reservoirs formed by the Colorado River.
However, there are active negotiations between the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Upper Basin states regarding reservoir operating rules. A federal plan based on the seven states’ input may be reached soon, according to Kenney.
The new operating rules will most likely be based on the recent Lower Basin proposal, but may include some elements that address Upper Basin concerns, Kenney said.
Impact
Nearly 40 million people use the water from the Colorado River and its reservoirs. The river supports a trillion-dollar economy, with many people relying on it for food, especially winter vegetables, that are grown in the Basin.
The Bureau of Reclamation released the Environmental Impact Statement in January and is now reviewing public comments. The Final Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be released by October 1.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
