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The Biden administration released two potential plans last week to stabilize the Colorado River, which is dwindling due to climate change-driven drought as well as overuse by the seven states that rely on it for much of their water. The options are to either use the existing water priority system to make cuts or to cut the same percentage across the board.
Neither plan would affect water deliveries to the Upper Basin states—Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming. That's because these states pull water directly from the river, as opposed to getting it from reservoirs like Lakes Powell and Mead, and because—in most years—they do not use the full 7.5 million acre feet appropriated to them by the Colorado River Compact.
In California, the priority-based proposal would benefit cities and farm districts like the Imperial Valley. The valley would lose no additional water under this proposal based on its senior rights. California is worse off if cuts are spread out evenly among the Lower Basin states. As Lake Mead gets lower, California would have to give up more water, eventually adding up to about one-fifth of its allocation.
In Arizona, the Central Arizona Project, which delivers water to metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson, would be hard-hit under the priority-based proposal. If the cuts are made based on the priority system, Arizona could lose nearly two-thirds of its total river water next year. If equal cuts are made across the board, Arizona would lose only about one-third of its water.
Since Nevada doesn’t use its full allocation of Colorado River water, it faces relatively small cuts in either scenario.
States, Tribes, and other water users have until May 30 to comment on the two options. Federal officials are expected to announce a formal decision this summer.
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I was struck by the power and presence of the ancestors in tribal communities who have prayed on, protected and drawn strength from this special place for thousands of years.”
