breakthrough deal Water cut announced on Monday After months of negotiations, the decision was made to use the Colorado River.
But is it enough to deal with the drought crisis on the Colorado River?
Here’s what we know:
What is Reduction?
The seven states that use Colorado River water will reduce their water use by 3 million acre-feet between now and the end of 2026. This equates to an average of 1 million acre feet per year, a reduction in usage of approximately 14% across the Southwest.
Is that enough?
The proposed cuts under the agreement represent about half the cuts originally requested by federal authorities.
Last month, the Bureau of Development presented two options He said water reductions could be imposed by following water right priority schemes or by using flat rates for preventing depleted reservoirs in the Colorado River from reaching dangerously low water levels. Under these alternatives, reductions would amount to about 2 million acre-feet each year, federal officials said, a substantial cut from the combined 7.5 million acre-feet allocated to California, Nevada and Arizona.
Twenty-three years of drought caused by climate change have dramatically reduced the river’s water reserves.but in the river received a much needed boost The Rocky Mountains were covered in heavy snow this year due to storms. Federal officials estimate that the river’s runoff into reservoirs this year will be 149% of the average.
With reservoir levels expected to rise significantly this year, seven states — California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming — think water managers will have enough to keep their reservoirs from rising. , submitted a proposal for a smaller reduction. Even if the dryness returns over the next three years, it is currently at very low levels.
Water administrators negotiating the deal say most of the cuts will take place next year, cutting water use by 1.5 million acre-feet by the end of 2024.
What do the experts say?
Plans to reduce water use by an average of 1 million acre feet each year over three years equates to a 14% reduction in water consumption in the three downstream states of California, Arizona and Nevada, said professor and director Jack Schmidt. said. Ph.D., Colorado River Research Center, Utah State University.
“It’s a great start,” Schmidt said. “This is a step.”
Based on this century’s decline in river flow, Schmidt estimates that 4 million acre-feet per year will be required in the Colorado River Basin to address water shortages and restore reservoirs.
“It’s about 25% of what we’re going to end up with,” Schmidt said.
How does saving water happen?
Federal officials said much of the cuts would come from using $1.2 billion from the Inflation Control Act to pay landowners, irrigation districts and other water users to conserve water. Reserve water remains in Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir near Las Vegas, currently at 30% capacity.
As the largest user of the Colorado River, California will bear most of the savings of up to 1.6 million acre-feet by 2026. One acre-foot is enough water to supply up to three households for one year.
What about compensation?
Many of the details of how federal funds will be used to compensate water users are yet to be finalized.
So far, federal officials have announced that $233 million will be donated to the following funds: Gila River Indian Community in ArizonaMuch of it will be used to compensate the tribal nations that left Lake Mead water.
what’s next?
The Biden administration said it would Analyze suggestions Seek input from the state before making a final decision.
This story was originally los angeles times.
