The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) released a scoping report showing some of the comments and recommendations received from stakeholders and other individuals to guide the stability of the Colorado River post-2026.
BOR also offered a timeline for when a new environmental impact statement and the opportunity for public involvement to comment on the new guidelines set to go into effect in 2027 when the 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines expire.
According to a BOR statement, a draft supplemental environmental impact statement to revise the interim guidelines would be issued by the end of this month for the river’s operation through the end of 2026.
“The Colorado River Basin has come together over the past year to create a consensus path in the short term that now allows us to focus on the future,” said Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “Today’s next steps for post-2026 planning helps continue the momentum between all stakeholders across the Basin on what the future operations of this critical system will look like.”
The report, “Scoping Report for Post-2026 Colorado River Reservoir Operations,” shows the range of issues and recommendations the agency received from over 24,000 comments during a public comment period conducted this summer.
Of the comments received, a large majority were form letters from individuals. The agency received comments from 19 Tribes and over 140 governmental and non-governmental stakeholders.
Comments received
BOR identified 10 primary public comment themes for the operating guidelines of Lake Mead and Lake Powell. Among the themes were the supply and demand imbalance, the scope of federal action, conservation and storage programs, Tribal water rights and sustainable solutions.
“Address the imbalance between available supply and demand,” the Upper Colorado River Commission commented. “This will require permanent Lower Basin reductions under most if not all operating conditions.”
Several irrigation districts and other governmental agencies wrote changes should be done equitably for all parties reliant on the river, but while respect the “Law of the River,” which grants water rights to senior holders, many of whom are in the Lower Basin.
According to the report, several commenters stressed the importance of Tribal involvement in the post-2026 process, as they have been excluded in previous negotiations.
“We are concerned that Reclamation will once again allow the states to monopolize the environmental review, particularly in the formulation of meaningful alternatives, which in the past led Reclamation to dismiss citizen and tribal proposals,” commented environmental groups led by Save the Colorado. “The interests of the states should not be able to dominate and preclude consideration of Tribal water rights and environmental issues including instream needs for native fish and riparian resources or alternatives that include bypass or decommissioning of Glen Canyon Dam.”
Some commenters suggested filling Lake Mead by bypassing, decommissioning or maintaining Lake Powell at 3,550 feet and sending all excess water to Lake Mead.
Many recreationists and boaters supported the Blue Ribbon Coalition’s (BRC) “Path to 3588’ Plan”, which proposes maintaining Lake Powell at an elevation of 3,588 feet.
Although most were form letters from individuals, BRC submitted their own comments stating, “An elevation of 3,588 at Lake Powell is the elevation that allows for all major recreation amenities to be maintained and open. Managing operational tiers around this level will also position the agency to have more operational flexibility when dealing with changed circumstances since the adoption of the 2007 Interim Guidelines.”
The prolonged drought, coupled with low runoff conditions in the last 20 years, has contributed to lower levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell and has forced entities that rely on the water from the river to make cuts.
Tom Buschatzke, director for Arizona Department of Water Resources, commented BOR should consider how each water user can help to reduce their usage on the river as the supply and demand imbalance has threatened the infrastructure at Lake Powell. Buschatzke continued that the the burden of protecting the Colorado River system must be shared across the river basin.
Timeline
According to BOR, the multi-year process will begin with the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) in fall 2023. Work on the alternative development phase will continue through 2024 with the completed draft EIS and public comment period. BOR anticipates a final EIS will be available in late 2025, followed by a Record of Decision in early 2026.
The Post-2026 process must be concluded before developing the 2027 Annual Operating Plan for Colorado River Reservoirs. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
