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The Bureau of Reclamation announced that it will lessen restrictions on Colorado River water use next year after an unusually wet winter boosted low water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The announcement was made on the same day the Bureau of Reclamation released its 24-month projections for the Colorado River Basin. These projections play a critical role in determining the amount of water available from the river system for the following water year, which begins in October.
“The above-average precipitation this year was a welcome relief, and coupled with our hard work for system conservation, we have the time to focus on the long-term sustainability solutions needed in the Colorado River Basin,” said Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton in a statement.
Under the new projections, Arizona and Nevada will still need to reduce their consumption of Colorado River water. However, these reductions will be smaller than those mandated in 2023. The scale of these cuts is based on the water levels and is categorized into different "tiers" of shortage under a series of water management agreements among the states. This entails Arizona having to reduce its consumption by 512,000 acre-feet of water, which is roughly 18 percent of its annual allotment, while Nevada will relinquish 21,000 acre-feet, equating to 7 percent of its yearly share. California, which owns the largest and oldest share of Colorado River rights, is not required to give up any of its water under Tier 1 standards.
Although this news brings flexibility for 2024, the Colorado River Basin faces a long-term crisis as reservoirs dry up. The Interior Department is finalizing a plan for Colorado River water use between 2024 and 2026. Once it is complete, this interim plan will supersede the 2024 plan. Interior is also formulating a long-term operations plan for the Colorado River Basin, which will shape the future of the river that serves over 40 million people and irrigates 5.5 million acres of farmland.
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