Interior floats plan for Colorado River cuts to Western states
The Interior Department has proposed new emergency measures that would allow the agency to manage reduced water releases to states dependent on the Colorado River. The proposed changes come as historic drought conditions threaten the river’s ability to provide enough water and hydroelectric power to the western United States. The Department published an environmental review of the possible changes on Tuesday, which includes amending federal guidelines covering the operation of Glen Canyon and Hoover dams, and water allocations to Arizona, Nevada, and California.
The proposed changes offer two alternatives for water reduction. The first alternative would decrease allocation based on priority of water rights, meaning California would be advantaged, with Arizona and Nevada receiving the most significant cuts. The second alternative would distribute the reduction more evenly among the three states.
The Colorado River is responsible for supplying water and hydroelectric power to approximately 40 million people across eight states, but resources have become increasingly strained. The period of 2000 to 2022 is the driest period in over a century for the region, and one of the driest in over 1,200 years. In response, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Interior Department need to implement modified operating guidelines because of the potential for continued low runoff conditions in the Colorado River Basin. Further drought could lead Lake Powell and Lake Mead, which are controlled by the Hoover and Glen Canyon dams, to reach critically low elevations.
Deputy Secretary of the Interior Tommy Beaudreau issued a statement regarding the proposed changes, “Recognizing the severity of the worsening drought, the Biden-Harris administration is bringing every tool and resource to bear through the President’s Investing in America agenda to protect the stability and sustainability of the Colorado River System now and into the future.”
The review also acknowledged the environmental impact of continuing to operate water allocations at current rates. If releases remain unchanged, reservoirs may fall to a “minimum power pool” range, making them too low to generate hydropower, and thereby, increase greenhouse gas emissions.
Recent winter storms in California have provided temporary relief, leading Governor Gavin Newsom to ease some water restrictions, but long-term solutions may require the adoption of the proposed emergency measures.
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