Federal plans to maintain water levels in critical reservoirs ignore seniority rights

Yuma, Arizona (KECY, KYMA) – Farmers in Yuma may face a water outage from the Colorado River for the first time.

The federal government put forward a plan to keep water levels in Lake Mead on Tuesday.

One plan is to reduce the supply of water from the Colorado River based on water rights.

Another plan, however, takes a little bit from all water users and affects even the most senior rights holders.

Another option is for the federal government to do nothing.

But with record drought plaguing the Southwest, that path seemed unlikely, and so far the basin nations have been unable to come to an agreement on their own.

Undersecretary of the Interior Tommy Boudreau said, “We can’t kick the can to find a solution.”

Local attorney Wade Noble often advises Uma Farmers on water issues.

He said these cuts, if chosen and implemented, would be the first time Yuma farmers have cut supplies.

“We want to ensure that Yuma’s agriculture is not unduly affected,” Noble said.

Noble believes the best option is a proposal to cut water evenly across the desert.

Because not all Yuma farmers have senior rights.

“Cleaning out Priority 3 would essentially eliminate agriculture in Yuma County,” Noble said.

Noble understands that this opinion may not be shared among all local farmers.

“It’s telling some people with high priority that they’re going to get the cut they were promised they wouldn’t get,” Noble said.

It’s not all bad news, though, as record-breaking winter snowfall could hamper logging next year.

But water leaders say the Southwest still needs to save.

“Anyone who lives and works in the basin knows that one good year will not save us from 20 years of drought,” says Beaudreau.

Colorado River users must submit comments on the federal plan by the end of May.