Federal officials said Wednesday that conditions have improved on the Colorado River to the point that a plan by California, Arizona and Nevada to voluntarily reduce water use should help keep the river basin on stable footing for the next few years.
The U.S. Department of the Interior said in a statement that the risk of reaching critically low water elevations at Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the river’s two key reservoirs, has gone down substantially.
But the announcement displays how much things have changed since summer 2022, when U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton said drastic cuts would be needed to stave off a crisis in the river. The states failed to reach a consensus on cuts, and the federal government did not end up forcing any.
Though the federal government needs to finish its regulatory process, Wednesday’s announcement indicates it is poised to officially accept that plan, said JB Hamby, chairman of the Colorado River Board of California and a board member at the Imperial Irrigation District, the largest user of the river’s water.
California will be responsible for more than half of the total cuts. Those could be achieved through things like implementing water efficiency measures and idling certain crops for months at a time, Hamby said previously.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Western States’ planned water cuts are enough to avert a Colorado River crisis, for nowThe feds say plans by California, Arizona and Nevada to give up 13% of their Colorado River water will avert a crisis for a few years.
Read more »
Feds say Colorado River water usage cuts are sufficient to stave off immediate risksCuts pledged this year by California, Arizona and Nevada are likely to ease the threat of reservoirs declining to perilous lows — at least in the short term, the Biden administration said.
Read more »
Federal officials say plan for water cuts from 3 Western states is enough to protect Colorado RiverFederal officials say that conditions have improved on the Colorado River to the point that a three-state plan to reduce water use should keep the river basin on stable footing for several years
Read more »
Federal officials say plan for water cuts from 3 Western states is enough to protect Colorado RiverFederal officials say that conditions have improved on the Colorado River to the point that a three-state plan to reduce water use should keep the river basin on stable footing for several years. The U.S. Department of the Interior is throwing its support behind a proposal by Arizona, Colorado and Nevada.
Read more »
Federal judge rules faith-based schools can participate in Colorado’s UPK without changing religious policiesKatie joined the Denver7 team as a digital content producer in April of 2023.
Read more »
Biden admin greenlights plan to reduce western states’ vital water supply: ‘Equitable future’The Department of the Interior unveiled a proposal Wednesday that would conserve roughly 978 billion gallons of water for Western states in coming years.
Read more »