Mayor Regina Romero signed a multi-year agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation through the Central Arizona Project to significantly reduce water withdrawal from the Colorado River to Tucson by up to 110,000 acre feet.
The voluntary agreement provides the City of Tucson with compensation of $400 per acre-foot for each unit conserved in exchange for signing a Conservation Implementation Agreement (CIA).
The agreement falls under the Control Inflation Act 2022.
Tucson Water Commissioner John Kmeek said critical infrastructure projects are on the horizon to reduce water loss and promote conservation. He said he plans to return 50,000 acre feet of Lake Mead this year.
“What’s really happening is that three of the seven downstream states have reached agreements with the Landfill Authority to plan 3 million acre-feet of savings over the next few years,” he said. Kumiez said.
By 2026, decisions will be made regarding state rights to the Colorado River.
Landfill Administration Deputy Commissioner Michael Blaine said the two system agreements signed and six others pending finalization could save up to 393,000 acre-feet of water on Lake Mead.
“The Lower Colorado River System Conservation and Efficiency Program is one of the key tools we can use to address, improve, and protect the stability of the Colorado River System,” Blaine said.
Patrick Dent, assistant general manager of the Central Arizona Project, said the Lake Mead Pilot Conservation System began almost a decade ago, and the effort is now expanding.
The agreements and projects that are part of this program will enhance water conservation, improve water efficiency, and prevent the collapse of Colorado River system reservoirs to critical low elevations that threaten water supplies and hydroelectric power generation. will prevent.
The Colorado River supports 40 million Westerners, including tribes, farmers, cities and ecosystems.
Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Law Lewis said last month that the community would commit rights to up to 125,000 acre-feet of the Colorado River for the next three years.
“The Gila River Indian community has emphasized that it will take a whole-of-government approach to addressing the drought in the region,” Lewis said.
Metro District Water General Manager Joe Olsen said in 2019 Metro District Water signed a paid system maintenance agreement with CAP and last year continued its partnership with the agency and CAP under the 500 Plus Plan. rice field.
“Since 2019, we have deployed 100% of our CAP allocation to support our drought contingency planning goals, and 25% of our CAP allocation has been directed toward compensated system maintenance,” said Olsen. Stated.
The remaining 75% goes to farmers in Pima County.
Olsen said MWD has invested in upgrading recharge facilities and building transportation systems to secure and maximize its renewable water portfolio.
“Under this current agreement, we have increased the amount of water set aside for compensated system maintenance from 25% to 40%,” Olsen said.
Proactive measures are implemented through a three-year plan.
