California wants cuts based on Lake Mead elevation and not on water lost to evaporation and transportation, which Colorado and other states propose
Lake Mead
Posted inWater
International water researcher highlights Colorado Basin’s “disappearing” groundwater
Satellite data shows groundwater has dropped faster across the Colorado River Basin than reservoir levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead
Posted inWater
Colorado River managers looking to release less water from Lake Powell
Another significantly dry year combined with a 7 million acre-foot release could drop the reservoir below the point at which the dam can no longer generate hydropower
Posted inWater
Upper Basin officials see California proposal to conserve Colorado River water as a positive sign — even if it’s not enough
California water agencies sent a letter Wednesday to the U.S. Department of Interior proposing to conserve about one-tenth of its Colorado River use
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Farms should not be a default source of water to growing Colorado cities
The seven Colorado River Basin States and stakeholders are engaging to replace an important document with a long name: The 2007 Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and the Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. These Interim Guidelines are set to expire in 2026. Over the past year, the Family Farm Alliance has […]
Posted inNews, Water
Las Vegas’ water intake now visible at drought-stricken Lake Mead
LAS VEGAS — A massive drought-starved reservoir on the Colorado River has become so depleted that Las Vegas now is pumping water from deeper within Lake Mead where other states downstream don’t have access. The Southern Nevada Water Authority announced this week that its Low Lake Level Pumping Station is operational, and released photos of […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, News, Water
States volunteer to take more cuts in Colorado River water to stave off mandatory requests
By Brittany Peterson and Felicia Fonseca, The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Water leaders in Arizona, Nevada and California signed an agreement Wednesday to voluntarily reduce their take from the Colorado River to help stave off mandatory cuts in the upcoming years. The signing took place at the Colorado River Water Users Association annual meeting […]
Posted inClimate, Economy, Environment, News, Opinion, Outdoors, Water
Analysis: As Colorado River Basin states confront water shortages, it’s time to focus on reducing demand
By Robert Glennon, University of Arizona The U.S. government announced its first-ever water shortage declaration for the Colorado River on Aug. 16, 2021, triggering future cuts in the amount of water states will be allowed to draw from the river. The Tier 1 shortage declaration followed the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s forecast that the water […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Environment, News, Water
Feds slash state water draws from Colorado River as drought intensifies
The federal government declared a water shortage on the Colorado River for the first time since a compact between seven river basin was inked a century ago, with major 2022 water delivery cutbacks for Arizona and a lesser amount for Nevada and the nation of Mexico. But water resource experts warned Coloradans not to be […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, News, Water
Three Colorado River Basin reservoirs will be partially drained to keep Lake Powell producing hydropower
The nation’s Western drought is so severe that federal predictions of Colorado River flows into Lake Powell for 2021 dropped by the equivalent of 10 Lake Dillons in just six months, according to a key new report. In issuing the report Friday, U.S. water engineers said they will for the first time take water […]