The US has a plan to save the Colorado River. Experts say it won’t be enough to stop the crisis
The 10-year blueprint mandates water cuts of up to 40% for California, Arizona and Nevada It’s official: after years of tense negotiations and missed deadlines, there is finally a plan to govern the future of the imperiled Colorado River - or at least the makings of one. With the previous framework set to expire in October, the US Bureau of Reclamation publicly released its proposal for a new…
The US has unveiled a 10-year plan to manage the troubled Colorado River, but experts warn it will not be sufficient to avert the ongoing crisis. The blueprint mandates significant water cuts, up to 40% for California, Arizona, and Nevada, amounting to around 3 million acre-feet per year. This equals roughly 326 million gallons, enough to supply three families for a year. These cuts would take effect from 2027 to 2028, with the potential for larger reductions depending on conditions.
However, the plan is seen as a temporary measure, aimed at preserving the critical infrastructure of the river system while the seven states continue to grapple with the need for more substantial cuts to restore balance. The upper-basin states (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) have yet to reach an agreement with the lower-basin states (California, Arizona, and Nevada) over how to implement the necessary cuts, which could exceed a quarter of the river's annual average flow.
The situation has become dire as the river's flows have steadily declined, averaging just over 10 million acre-feet annually since 2020, even as consumption remains high. Snowmelt, which traditionally feeds the river, is evaporating at a faster rate due to warmer temperatures and increased evaporation from thirsty soils and plants.
This has led to reduced reservoir levels, with Lake Powell and Lake Mead recently reaching their lowest combined levels since the dam's construction. The crisis is exacerbated by the lack of a strong connection between El Niño events and water supplies in the region.
The federal government acknowledges the urgency of the matter, but its authority over state water policies is limited. Critics argue that the plan merely delays the inevitable and leaves stakeholders with limited options, risking the water supply for over 40 million people. To truly address the crisis, experts emphasize the need for deeper and more comprehensive water management measures.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
