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


** Pressure on Colorado River mounts as Compact nears 100-year anniversary
------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, September 16, 2022
Satellite view of water losses in Lake Mead near Las Vegas. Source: NASA Earth Observatory Flickr ([link removed])

These days it seems the news is full of stories detailing the pressures on the Colorado River to meet the water demands of 40 million people living in the Southwest, as well as the fish and wildlife that rely on the river, and also have enough capacity to produce hydropower. As the region experiences the worst drought in the last 1,200 years, ([link removed]) the situation is certainly dire.

As the law that governs the use of Colorado River water nears its 100-year anniversary, the Colorado Sun published a series of stories this week in collaboration with other media outlets across the Southwest to examine the specific issues on the ground in the states that rely on Colorado River water. ([link removed])

In Arizona ([link removed]) , officials worry about the long-term future access to the river as the state faces another round of significant cuts to its allocation next year. New Mexico ([link removed]) officials are grappling with how to make do with less water as more tribes reach water settlement agreements with the federal government for access to Colorado River water. Farmers on Colorado's Western Slope ([link removed]) face difficult questions about irrigation and interest from Wall Street investment firms in their water rights.

One hundred years later, Colorado River Basin tribes ([link removed]) are still struggling to fully secure water rights. When the Colorado River Compact was negotiated in the early 1900s, only about 5,000 people lived in Clark County, Nevada ([link removed]) , home to Las Vegas and by far the biggest user of the state's Colorado River water.

A proposed pipeline delivering water from the rapidly shrinking Lake Powell reservoir to elsewhere in Utah manages to stay in play ([link removed]) , even as the system dries. “With the entire Colorado River Basin in crisis mode, it’s laughable that Utah would even think about moving forward with a new diversion from the river,” said ([link removed]) Glen Canyon Institute Executive Director Eric Balken.
Quick hits


** Report: Western Colorado's outdoor recreation industry is thriving
------------------------------------------------------------

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel ([link removed])


** Pressure on Colorado River mounts as Compact nears 100-year anniversary
------------------------------------------------------------

Colorado Sun ([link removed]) [story collection] | Colorado Sun ([link removed]) [farmers] | Nevada Independent ([link removed]) | Arizona Daily Star ([link removed]) | Albuquerque Journal ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed]) [tribes] E&E News
([link removed]) [Lake Powell pipeline]


** Church leaders push Biden to create more national monuments showcasing history of African Americans
------------------------------------------------------------

E&E News ([link removed])


** Oil companies funded bid to defeat Colorado ballot proposal to restrict drilling
------------------------------------------------------------

Reuters ([link removed]) | Colorado Newsline ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** Revival of Gulf oil lease sale forces Biden to compromise on climate
------------------------------------------------------------

Washington Post ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed]) | Wall Street Journal ([link removed]) | Bloomberg ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** Movement to "re-Indigenize" Yellowstone gains steam
------------------------------------------------------------

WyoFile ([link removed])


** Navajo Nation president wants uranium sites cleaned up
------------------------------------------------------------

Lake Powell Life ([link removed])


** Moose attack near Rocky Mountain National Park results in life-threatening injuries
------------------------------------------------------------

Out There Colorado ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” Even though Black leaders are seldom if ever consulted regarding local, state or national parks, and public lands, Black communities still value public lands not only for their health and recreation benefits but for their value for telling Black history. This isn’t just Black history, it is everyone’s history.”
—Rev. Michael McClain ([link removed]) , National Religious Partnership for the Environment
Picture this


** @BLMca ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
@BLMca ([link removed]) is proud to celebrate our Hispanic team members such as Armando Porras, whose story began in the hills of Guanajuato, Mexico & is now an engineering tech in our Mother Lode Field Office. Read more about his public service: [link removed] ([link removed]) #HispanicHeritageMonth ([link removed])

============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
Copyright © 2022 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.

Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])