Its a great start, Schmidt said. Coming up with a plan to fairly cut water use has created tensions between farms and cities and between states, especially California and Arizona. The. The California proposal makes a constructive effort to uphold the Law of the River while making substantial efforts to protect the Colorado River system with voluntary reductions far beyond Californias legal obligations, JB Hamby, chairman of the Colorado River Board of California, wrote in the introduction to the plan. Capitals re-sign defenseman Martin Fehervary to a three-year contract, Caps first-rounder Ivan Miroshnichenko, 19 and cancer-free, chases NHL dream, Offensive fireworks prove elusive for Nats in loss to Reds, in negotiations with the seven states affected. After nearly a year of intense negotiations, California, Nevada and Arizona reached a historic agreement today to use less water from the overdrafted Colorado River over the next three years. The early results from a fish survey on October 5 show that the number and size of rainbow and brown trout has increased. Facing that prospect, the Interior Department last June told the seven states to find a way to reduce their water use by two to four million acre-feet of water per year. Today's agreement between the Department of the Interior and seven Colorado River Basin states on a consensus-based approach marks an important step forward in our efforts to protect the. The terms of the deal were described to The New York Times by a senior official at the Interior Department who was involved in the negotiations, and who spoke on the condition that he not be identified by name. Gov. But the impact will be minimal. Treese, Hickenlooper, Lochhead & Davidson, Colorado River Water Conservation District For the second time in six months, states that depend on the Colorado River to sustain their farms and cities have failed to reach an agreement on restricting water usage, setting up the prospect of the federal government making unilateral cuts this year. Colorado River deal: Western states, feds nearing deal to save Lake The agreement struck over the weekend runs only through the end of 2026 and still needs to be formally adopted by the federal government. The river has received a desperately needed boost this year from storms that left the Rocky Mountains blanketed with heavy snow. The agreement on cuts, aided by a wet winter and $1.2 billion in federal payments, expires at the end of 2026. Colorado River expert John Fleck, a professor at the University of New Mexico, wrote that Californias plan gets to roughly the same place as the six-state plan at the most extreme reservoir levels, but the difference is timing waiting until water levels drop further at Lake Meads Hoover Dam. An acre-foot is enough water to supply three average households for a year. Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 This is another step toward the long-term downward adjustment in how much Colorado River water we as a region can expect to take out of the system, she said. That inertia led the federal government to lay the groundwork for unilaterally imposing cuts on those states. Read More. Lower Colorado River Authority - Candidate Conservation Agreement with Imperial Irrigation District General Manager Henry Martinez applauded the agreement, saying it is is based on voluntary, achievable conservation volumes that will help protect critical Colorado River reservoir elevations, and in particular Lake Mead.. Sandy Huffaker/Agence France-Presse Getty Images, unilaterally imposing cuts on those states. One of the options would override Californias water rights and split the cuts evenly between California, Nevada and Arizona which would be a big blow to Imperial Valley farmers. Kightlinger, along with many other water experts and officials, says cuts of this magnitude and severity have to be shared, rather than doled out according to seniority. Opt in to send and receive text messages from President Biden. Eiffel Tower Reserved access Tour with Summit Access by Elevator 2023 Ian James is a reporter who focuses on water in California and the West. Want to know how your actions can help make a difference for our planet? TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) Luis Ramirez leapt onto the roof of his bright blue water truck to fill the plastic tank that by day's end would empty into an assortment of buckets, barrels and cisterns . Then Tuesday broke it, Opinion: Weve got it all wrong about sequoias and wildfire, L.A. mayor ousts Native American DWP commissioner; Indigenous groups outraged, As California fire season begins, debate over wildfire retardant heats up. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland called the agreement a testament to the Biden administrations commitment to working with states, tribes and communities in the West to find consensus solutions in the face of climate change and sustained drought.. 'URGENT ACTION' NEEDED: Feds cut Colorado River allocation for Arizona and Nevada in 2023. This story was originally published by The Colorado Sun at 4:46 AM on June 22, 2023.. Western water crisis looms as California complicates critical water deal, 3-day flood experiment begins at Grand Canyon to improve Colorado River conditions, Feds cut Colorado River allocation for Arizona and Nevada in 2023, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. US states agree breakthrough deal to prevent Colorado River from drying He lives in San Diego, California. The Fraser Flats Habitat Project is a cooperative venture conducted by Learning By Doing, an amalgamation of local water stakeholders who several years ago formed a committee in an effort to increase cooperation and decrease litigation between Front Range water diverters, local governments and High Country conservation groups. Under those alternatives, federal officials said the cuts would reach about 2 million acre-feet each year a much larger reduction from the three states total apportionment of 7.5 million acre-feet. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Jeff Dollente of the Imperial Irrigation District opens a gate on the Redwood Canal north of El Centro on June 1, 2022. But the greater challenge, cautioned Schmidt, who is also a professor of watershed sciences at Utah State University, will be reaching an agreement on permanent reductions. Porter noted that this plan, because its a voluntary one, gets us toward our 2026 goals without risk of litigation.. A bathtub ring stands far above the waterline around Lake Powell on April 15. Stories have circulated for years about the state of Grand Countys waterways, largely centered around bad news, but there have been some bright spots lately, including the recent completion of the Fraser Flats Habitat Project. The historic deal to save the Colorado River, explained - Vox The rules governing the system are not sustainable.. The river, which supplies states from the Rocky Mountains to the U.S.-Mexico border, has long been over-allocated, and its reservoirs have declined to their lowest levels on record during 23 years of drought worsened by rising temperatures with climate change. Editors note: This story was corrected on May 23 to remove a reference to the Imperial water district receiving a certain amount of federal funds to reimburse growers. And everything will have to be renegotiated before the end of 2026. Want to submit a guest commentary or reaction to an article we wrote? The state aqueduct delivered only about 100,000 acre-feet to Metropolitan last year, but will deliver 2 million this year. Schmidt has estimated that based on the decline in the rivers flow this century, the Colorado River Basin will need 4 million acre-feet in reductions annually to address the water deficit and allow for reservoirs to recover. Western water Colorado River agreement punts on drastic cuts and difficult negotiations The proposal from Arizona, California and Nevada is not a long-term fix, water experts argue. While the new agreement amounts to saving about 1 million acre-feet per year, thats not enough. The district will sacrifice 130,000 acre-feet per year that it usually receives through a transfer arrangement from farmers in the Palo Verde Irrigation District in Riverside and Imperial counties. Colorado River Basin states reach an agreement on cutting water use Dear Commissioner Touton: The Colorado River Basin States Representatives of Arizona, California, and Nevada (Lower Division States) have reached an agreement to conserve at least an additional 3 The primary goal: to maintain, and where reasonably possible,restore or enhance the condition of the aquatic environment in Grand County. A Management Committee oversees LBD activities, of which the Colorado River District is a voting member. NCAI's Early Advocacy for Indian Water Rights - The Sentinel Glen Canyon Dam flood experiment hopes to help Colorado River levels. The negotiations over the Colorado were spurred by a crisis: Last summer, the water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the two largest reservoirs along the river, fell enough that officials feared the hydroelectric turbines they powered might soon cease operating. Trevor Hughes USA TODAY 0:00 2:07 DENVER Federal officials have struck a last-minute deal to pay water users in California, Arizona and Nevada to use less water from the drought-stricken. The Washington Post reported elements of the deal last week. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter. The release is part of a first-of-its-kind agreement between the Jicarilla Apache Nation and the state of New Mexico. The Fraser Flats Project is the groups pilot project, restoring a roughly one-mile section of the Fraser River. That would be: Were basically going to put all the cuts on the major share of the economy. The Biden administration has presented options for preventing the Colorado Rivers reservoirs from dropping to critically low levels over the next three years. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. 44 places to watch dazzling Fourth of July fireworks in L.A. Mone Davis is not just your average summer intern for the Dodgers, No sign of progress in L.A. hotel strike ahead of Fourth of July holiday, Thousands of hotel workers across Southern California walk off the job, Its a disaster: California farmer faces ordeal as pistachio farm sits underwater, Heat waves like the one that killed 14 in the southern U.S. are becoming more frequent, U.S. forest managers urge revelers to swap fireworks for Silly String, but some say not so fast, L.A. air the cleanest its been in a decade, but rising temperatures could change that, Alaskas slow start to wildfire season a relief after Connecticut-sized area burned last year. Western states agree to Colorado River water-sharing agreement If the states dont identify those 700,000 acre-feet in additional cuts, the Interior Department said it would withhold the water, a move that could face legal and political challenges. As reservoir levels drop, the document suggests California, which has rights to 4.4 million acre-feet of water, would need to cut more than 1 million acre-feet. Contact Editor Scott Greenberger for questions: [emailprotected]. While temporary conservation can help us avert emergency, it wont solve our long-term water sustainability problems, she said. The deal directly impacts 40 million people who rely on the river for water and power. The Interior Department raised the prospect of cutting each states supply equally, as a share of its total use. California emerges as big winner in Colorado River water deal But the largest water user, California, did not join them an impasse that suggests the wrangling over how to conserve the dwindling water supply that serves 40 million people will continue in coming months. The Bureau of Land Management recently participated in two days of floating down the Colorado River near Moab, Utah. We cover the biggest stories in California to help you stay informed. From here, our work must continue to take action and address the long-term issues of climate change and overallocation to ensure we have a sustainable Colorado River for all who rely upon it, she said in a statement announcing the agreement. Colorado River agreement punts on drastic cuts and difficult PDF The Colorado River Basin States Representatives of Arizona, California They still have to find another 3 million acre-feet to save, Schmidt said. California has stepped up to make significant cuts to water usage, he said in a statement. CNN Three Southwest states announced Monday they have struck a historic deal to cut millions of gallons of Colorado River water usage over the next four years, about half of which would be. The federal government still needs to approve the proposal, but officials at the Interior Department publicly signaled they supported the effort. Matt Vasilogambros covers voting rights, gun laws and Western climate policy for Stateline. This is one step.. Keegan Bradley dominated the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands, and low key has a great win profile on the PGA Tour since he debuted in 2010. The dry period has lasted more than two decades, draining the major reservoirs along the river. Those states, however, said they have not yet endorsed the plan. Fights over those needs are a core part of the states history, and they tend to follow a pattern. California also fares better than might otherwise have been the case. The long-depleted Colorado River is getting a boost from the largest snowpack since 1997. The new guidelines will replace the 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and the Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead, which are set to expire at the end of 2026. Colorado River in Crisis is a series of stories, videos and podcasts in which Los Angeles Times journalists travel throughout the rivers watershed, from the headwaters in the Rocky Mountains to the rivers dry delta in Mexico. Once the agreements are finalized, we must turn our attention to the much greater challenge ahead: developing long-term, post-2026 solutions to the imbalance on the river, he said. Six of the Colorado River states agreed on water cuts. California did Washington, DC 20500. In October 2022, Lake Powell was a quarter full due to a historic drought, which threatened power supplied to millions by the Glen Canyon Dam in Page, Ariz. (Video: John Farrell/The Washington Post), Local news, weather, sports, events, restaurants and more, As the Colorado River dries up, states cant agree on saving water. With global warming, average temperatures across the upper watershed where most of the rivers flow originates have risen about 3 degrees since 1970. In 2019, as reservoirs were dropping, water managers agreed to reduce water use under a deal called the Drought Contingency Plan. Were not going to wreck our local economy so that they can continue to grow their urban economy.. The seven states that depend on the Colorado River announced on Monday that they have reached an agreement on cutting water use from the river over the next three years to prevent reservoirs from falling to critically low levels. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Shannon Mullane 4:46 AM MDT on Jun 22, 2023 Credibility: Original Reporting Sources Cited Subject Specialist Nearly 15,000 acre-feet of water is released from Navajo Reservoir into the San Juan River between June 13 and 15. By acreage, alfalfa and other water-intensive crops used to feed dairy cows and cattle dominate in the Imperial Valley, covering more than half of its farmland. He previously worked for the Associated Press as a correspondent in the Caribbean and as bureau chief in Venezuela. For decades, the Fraser River in Colorados Grand County has turned into a trickle every fall as the snowmelt that powers the river dissipates. Before 2026 we could be back in that danger zone again, she said. Newsline is based in Denver, and coverage of activities at the Capitol are central to its mission, but its reporters are devoted to providing reliable information about topics that concern readers in all parts of the state, from Lamar to Dinosaur, from Durango to Sterling. Imperial also producestwo-thirds of the vegetablesconsumed in the U.S. during winter months. The Biden administration announced that the federal Interior Department, which had laid out options for larger reductions, will analyze the proposal from the states. A Breakthrough Deal to Keep the Colorado River From Going Dry, for Now The agreement on cuts, aided by a wet winter and $1.2 billion in federal payments, expires at the end of 2026. Colorado River deal will pay people to use less water. And its due to an unusual partnership that includes Denver Water, which diverts most of the river to the Front Range, and Trout Unlimited, which has fought for decades to protect it. They declined to discuss how much they might receive. More about Christopher Flavelle, A version of this article appears in print on, A Breakthrough Deal to Keep the Colorado River From Going Dry, for Now, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/22/climate/colorado-river-deal.html. California, as the state that uses the largest share of the Colorado River, has pledged to shoulder a large share of the reductions about 1.6 million acre-feet through 2026. Camille Calimlim Touton, Commissioner . Please enable JavaScript to use this feature. An earlier version of this article misspelled the surname of the director of Arizonas department of water resources. The agreement this week avoids a costly court battle and mandatory cuts by the feds. But warnings went unheeded, Monday might have set a global record for hottest day ever. The rest of the water that is saved will come through voluntary conservation from the states. Opinion. June 15, 2023 The Department of the Interior today announced that it is initiating the formal process to develop future operating guidelines and strategies to protect the stability and sustainability of the Colorado River. The remaining 700,000 acre-feet will be achieved through voluntary, uncompensated reductions by the Lower Basin states. The Interior Department did not release how much it will spend or who would get the money. Last year, federal officials called for cutting water use by 2 million to 4 million acre-feet per year to address the unresolved water shortfall. The Biden administration has been pushing the states since last spring to reach an agreement to cut back on Colorado River water deliveries. Well help you get your day started by explaining the issues affecting your California community. An acre foot of water is enough to supply about two households for a year. Though the announcement came from the three states in the Colorado Rivers lower basin, the four other states in the upper basin of the river system (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) said in a letter they supported the submission of the agreement. The proposal lays out potential new cuts for the states of the Southwest that lie downstream from the major reservoirs Arizona, Nevada and California as well as Mexico, which has treaty rights to a portion of the rivers water. KUSA Its a success story in river restoration. In most years, farms, cities and tribes use around 13 million acre-feet of the Colorado Rivers water, which is significantly more than the 11 million acre-feet of rain and snow that feeds into the river system in an average year. Cardenas said the prospect of a 10 percent cut to the regions $5 billion agricultural economy would mean serious economic pain for a community that already suffers from high unemployment. The Colorado Rivers water transformed the Imperial Valley desert into one of Californias most productive farm regions. Conservation Agreement for Lower Colorado River Basin Mussels Open for It's governed by the Colorado River Compact , a century-old agreement allocating water to the states and Mexico . This approach will benefit the 40 million people who rely on the Colorado River Basin for agriculture, drinking water, and power, and is a critical step to building a sustainable, resilient future for states, Tribes and communities throughout the West. Then bid adieu to your guide and head to the tower's summit for stellar views of the City of . But long-term water crisis remains, They sounded alarms about a coming Colorado River crisis. Gavin Newsom said that California has stepped up to make significant cuts to water usage, and that the agreement will help maintain critical water supply for millions of Americans as we work together to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Colorado River., President Biden said the agreement on a consensus-based approach marks an important step forward in our efforts to protect the stability of the Colorado River System in the face of climate change and historic drought conditions.. The feds just want a deal. Comments are due on August 15, 20223. In 2016 Jeff Drager of Northern Water and Kirk Klancke of Colorado Headquarters Chapter of Trout Unlimited presented at our annual Grand County State of the River public meeting, Learning by Doing An Enhancement Program.. But the bountiful precipitation has also been a double-edged sword, creating a political challenge for negotiators trying to agree on painful cuts, according to analysts following the talks. The Biden administration had presented its alternatives last month as part of a review aimed at revising the rules for dealing with water shortages through 2026, when the current rules expire. The agreement gives federal authorities the ability to make emergency cuts if water levels reach critically low levels again. A boat moves across Wahweap Bay along the Upper Colorado River Basin at the Utah and Arizona . Climate change has led to the regions biggest megadrought in 1,200 years, as sustained dry periods have led to dangerously low water levels throughout the river system. Joe Lombardo said in a statement, and this partnership is a critical next step in our efforts to sustain this essential water supply., GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Colorado Newsline is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Photo by Mark Henle, The Republic via Reuters, 3 million acre-feet of river water through 2026, Growers brace to give up some Colorado River water, US unveils options for cutting Californias Colorado River water, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Washington, D.C. 20240 . Taken together, those reductions would amount to about 13 percent of the total water use in the lower Colorado Basin among the most aggressive ever experienced in the region, and likely to require significant water restrictions for residential and agriculture uses. Its also unclear what portion of the federal money will pay for temporarily fallowing fields rather than making more permanent conservation upgrades, Koebele said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Southern California growers agreed to use less water through 2026 and receive federal funds in return. The Colroado River Simulation System, also known as CRSS, is a comprehensive model of the Colorado River Basin and the primary tool for analyzing future river and reservoir conditions in a long-term planning context. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Statement from President Joe Biden on Historic Agreement to Protect The states agreed to give up 3 million acre-feet of river water through 2026 about 13% of the amount they receive. So in some ways, the fight over the Fraser River in Colorados Grand County is familiar. Jack Healy contributed reporting from Phoenix. Relying largely on voluntary reductions gets around that concern. US states reach agreement to save dwindling Colorado River - Phys.org States that rely on water from the over-tapped Colorado River want the U.S. Supreme Court to block a lawsuit from the Navajo Nation that could upend how water is shared in the Western U.S. California on Tuesday submitted its own proposal for how reductions should play out in coming years, depending on the elevation in Lake Mead. California Democratic Gov. His water district uses about 2.6 million acre-feet of water per year to irrigate more than 400,000 acres of farmland for alfalfa, grasses and other crops. Denver Water holds unused water rights on the river, which starts in the shadow of Berthoud Pass and courses down the western side of the Continental Divide past Winter Park, Fraser and Tabernash to join the Colorado River outside of Granby. California holds out as western states agree to cut Colorado River The Imperial Irrigation District announced today that it will reduce usage at farms by roughly 250,000 acre-feet per year, about 10% of its average amount. Deal Is Reached to Keep Colorado River From Going Dry, for Now - The Thirty tribes rely on the Colorado River as a freshwater source. Federal officials are trying to ensure lakes Powell and Mead contain enough water to continue producing hydroelectricity and avoid what's known as "dead pool," when water levels drop below the pipes needed to keep the Colorado River flowing. The Palo Verde Irrigation District, which supplies farmlands next to the Colorado River around Blythe, plans to scale up a land-fallowing program in which growers are paid to leave some of their fields dry. Its about 25% of where we ultimately need to get, Schmidt said. The governors of Arizona, California and Nevada have announced a historic water-sharing agreement for the Colorado River in an attempt to salvage one of the Wests major sources of drinking water that has dwindled in severe drought. As many of our readers may be aware, the Colorado River has been a focus in recent news after a major multi-state agreement announced in May 2023 indicated that the federal government will compensate $1.2 Billion to municipalities, water districts and Tribal Nations in Arizona, California and Nevada in exchange for reducing water consumption. Arizona city cuts off a neighborhoods water supply amid drought. The governors of Arizona, California and Nevada have announced a historic water-sharing agreement for the Colorado River in an attempt to salvage one of the West's major sources of drinking water that has dwindled in severe drought. The rain and snowstorms that battered California in January raised reservoir levels in the state and coated the Sierra Nevada mountains in snowpack that is 210 percent above normal for this time of year. Californias snowpack, aided by atmospheric rivers, could help drought. At least half of the 3 million acre feet will be conserved by the end of 2024. Bypass the long lines at the Eiffel Tower with this tour that includes summit access. DENVER Federal officials have struck a last-minute deal to pay water users in California, Arizona and Nevada to use less water from the drought-stricken Colorado River for the next several years, staving off a feared collapse of the river system serving 40 million Americans. The proposal from the states protects the system in the short term so we can dedicate our energy and resources to a longer-term solution, said Brenda Burman, general manager of the Central Arizona Project, which delivers water to Phoenix and Tucson. May 22, 2023 .
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