The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) announced it is easing water restrictions for the Colorado River Lower Basin states after a wet winter and heavy snowpack.
“The above-average precipitation this year was a welcome relief, and coupled with our hard work for system conservation, we have the time to focus on the long-term sustainability solutions needed in the Colorado River Basin,” said BOR commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “However, Lake Powell and Lake Mead—the two largest reservoirs in the United States and the two largest storage units in the Colorado River system—remain at historically low levels.”
Based on the August 24-month study—which determines operations for Lake Mead and Lake Powell—both lakes will be upgraded from their current drought restrictions. Lake Powell will operate under the Mid-Elevation Release Tier, releasing 7.48 million acre-feet (an acre-foot is 325,851 gallons) in the water year 2024 (Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024). Lake Mead will operate in a Level 1 Shortage Condition, which affects Arizona, Nevada and Mexico.
BOR first imposed level 1 restrictions on Lake Mead in 2021, which stipulated Arizona would receive 18% less water from the Colorado River, Nevada 7% less and Mexico 5% less. Last water year, the states were under Level 2 Shortage Conditions. California is not affected by the water cuts due to senior water rights.
As of Aug. 23, current lake levels were 1,064.08 feet for Lake Mead and 3,575.85 feet for Lake Powell, according to Lake Levels. This is approximately 20 feet above lake levels in 2022 for Lake Mead and 40 feet for Lake Powell.
Clint Chandler, deputy director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, told local news outlet KTVK while the reduction doesn’t fix the state’s water problems, it provides more time for a long-term solution.
“With this good year of hydrology that provides us more time and space and breathing room to focus on those challenging conversations,” Chandler said.
The Lower Basin states reached an agreement in May to conserve an additional 3 million acre-feet of water through 2026 in exchange for $1.2 billion from the federal government through funding from the Inflation Reduction Act.
BOR is working on a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) that revises the 2007 Interim Guidelines. The agency plans to finalize the SEIS later this year. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
