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Federal officials say that a plan by Arizona, California, and Nevada to cut water use should be enough to keep the Colorado River Basin stable for a few years, keeping Lake Powell and Lake Mead from dropping to dangerous levels.
“We have staved off the immediate possibility of the System’s reservoirs from falling to critically low elevations that would threaten water deliveries and power production,” Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beaudreau said.
The announcement removes the immediate threat of the federal government imposing cuts on states. In May, the three lower basin states committed to cutting water use by 14 percent, or about three million acre-feet over three years. The Bureau of Reclamation says above-average snowpack in the Rocky Mountains and a wet year have reduced the risk of a crash in water levels through 2026, when the current plan for the river expires.
Now attention turns to the long-term plan for the river, which is due to start in 2027. The agency is planning to release a draft environmental review of those options by the end of 2024.
“We’re already seeing the success of our work on the voluntary conservation measures,” Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton told the Los Angeles Times. “It’s helping to stabilize the system for now, but also allows for a path to talk about sustainability for the future.”
How we made the Conservation Toolbox
In the latest episode of CWP's podcast, The Landscape, Kate and Aaron are joined by three other members of the CWP team to go inside the creation of our Conservation Toolbox—a directory of the major land protection tools available to help preserve federal public lands. CWP’s Director of Campaigns and Special Projects, Lauren Bogard, Policy and Design Associate, Lilly Bock-Brownstein, and Outreach and Campaigns Associate, Sterling Homard, talk about the process of putting the report together and how they hope it will be used for conservation, recreation, and more.
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The Dolores River Canyon Country also holds a remarkable historical legacy. The remnants of mining operations are present throughout the region, serving as a tangible reminder of the intrepid individuals who once toiled in these rugged landscapes and whose descendants live here today. This history is an essential part of our story and our country’s security, and it deserves recognition and preservation for future generations to explore and understand.”
