Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Colorado River states near historic deal
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Thursday, May 18, 2023
Lake Powell overlook, August 2021. Photo: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Flickr ([link removed])

The three lower basin states of California, Arizona, and Nevada are proposing a plan ([link removed]) to voluntarily conserve a major portion of their allocation of Colorado River water in exchange for more than $1 billion in federal funds. The emergency plan is focused on retaining sufficient water levels in both Lake Powell and Lake Mead ([link removed]) to ensure that hydropower operations at the sites can continue.

According to reporting by the Washington Post, the three lower basin states are discussing cutting back about 3 million acre-feet of water over the next three years, reductions that will be paid for primarily using funds from the Inflation Reduction Act. ([link removed])

While issues remain, state officials appear more united than ever to finalize a deal on their own before a May 30 deadline ([link removed]) after which the federal government will decide how states will cut their water use by 2 to 4 million acre-feet per year ([link removed]) , up to one-third of the entire average annual flow. If finalized, a deal would be the culmination of nearly a year of negotiations among the seven Western states that share the Colorado River.


** Lawmakers introduce bill to end speculative oil and gas leasing
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Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and Representative Susie Lee reintroduced the End Speculative Oil and Gas Leasing Act of 2023 ([link removed]) on Tuesday. The bill would require the Bureau of Land Management to assess the actual oil and gas development potential of BLM lands before any leasing could occur, and would ban future oil and gas leasing on most U.S. public lands that have low or no potential to produce oil. “The BLM is wasting time, money, and resources leasing land to oil and gas companies that we know has little actual potential for development,” said ([link removed]) Senator Cortez Masto.
Quick hits


** Colorado River states near historic deal
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Washington Post ([link removed]) | CNN ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** The skeletons in Big Oil's closet are driving lawsuits around the world
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New York Times ([link removed])


** Interior launches new study in latest chapter of Izembek road dispute through Alaska wildlife refuge
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E&E News ([link removed])


** Conservation leasing could become an option on Wyoming public lands
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Casper Star-Tribune ([link removed])


** Inside the "white gold" rush to mine lithium and make millions
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VICE ([link removed])


** Chevron scrambles to prepare Kern County oil fields for flooding
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Los Angeles Times ([link removed])


** Renowned nature photographer John Fielder, facing cancer, basks in beauty he helped preserve
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Denver Post ([link removed])


** Burning Man latest adversary in geothermal feud
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New York Times ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” For all the skeletons we’ve already found in Big Oil’s closet, in reality we’ve only been looking through the keyhole. There’s this kind of avalanche of discoveries now building that is helping to strengthen, and I think inspire, these cases.”
—Geoffrey Supran, professor of environmental science and policy at the University of Miami, New York Times ([link removed])
Picture this


** @USFWSAlaska ([link removed])
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Currently, there is only one wild herd of wood bison in the state. Grow Alaska's herd by bringing this animal to life using larger-than-life colors. Share your colored page using #ConservationInColor ([link removed]) . Download the page [link removed] ([link removed]) #ESA50 ([link removed]) Drawing by Jon Eppard

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