Seven Western U.S. States to Reduce Water Consumption to Save Colorado River

The Colorado River seen with a bird's eye last April on a stretch that is part of Lake Powell.RJ Sangosti (The Denver Post/Getty Images) (Denver Post via Getty Images)

At last there is agreement to save the Colorado River. The seven western U.S. states that benefit from it have reached an agreement with President Joe Biden's administration after more than a year of negotiations and several missed deadlines. The pact has been unlocked by the commitment of the three main consumers, Arizona, California and Nevada, who promise to reduce in the next three years their dependence on the water body that brings drinking water to taps and that feeds millions of hectares of crops.

The agreement changes the rules of a water use treaty in place since 2007. The latest pact between the seven states — Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico — was negotiated in six years of tug-of-war. This time has taken two months in the face of extreme urgency. It aims to give a respite to two of the most important water reserves in the West, Lakes Powell and Mead. These have suffered the loss of 20% of their levels thanks to overexploitation in two decades of drought and worse conditions caused by climate change. Scientists say that the river loses 9% of its flow for every degree Celsius that the earth's temperature rises.

The commitment announced this morning requires the three most populous entities to save about 3.7 trillion cubic meters between now and the end of 2026. Arizona will be the State that sacrifices the most, since it will put 55% of the volume of savings. California, which has the oldest rights, will contribute 30% and Nevada 6%. These states form the lower basin of the Colorado River and correspond to about 9.2 billion cubic meters annually. However, Arizona and Nevada have not received their full share for two years due to the poor flow of the Colorado.

With the cut to consumption, the states seek to access a fund of at least 1,000 million dollars offered by the Federal Government. Washington has secured the resources thanks to its inflation-reduction plan. This would put the money in the hands of farmers who voluntarily commit to reducing their dependence on the river, which bathes crops on 1.8 million hectares in the seven states.

The low levels of Lake Mead have exposed sunken boats and even bodies thrown into the reserve. John Locher (AP)

The Biden administration must approve the agreement reached by the parties before May 30. What the states are offering, however, is less savings than the Interior Department and the office that manages federal dams and reserves had expected. Federal agencies last summer ordered all seven states to reach a savings agreement. Otherwise, they would set the rules for cuts. The goal was to save about five trillion cubic meters, a third of what they take from the river. The agreement announced Monday is equivalent to 13%.

Washington is expected to approve the offer after several months in which there was no agreement. "This is a very important step towards our common goal," said Camille Climlin Toutin, the bureau's commissioner in charge of dams and hydroelectric dams. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, said Monday that the pact allows the state to strengthen reserves in the short term. This is thanks to historic snowfall left by winter in the Rocky Mountains. Estimates say dams can increase by a third of their capacity with melting snow, which has seen a 150 percent increase compared to previous years' averages.

The Colorado travels 2,300 kilometers from its source in Wyoming to the Sonoran Desert in Mexico. Along the way, it gives water to 40 million people and produces 4,200 megawatts of electricity. In addition to being a vital source for irrigating millions of acres of crops, it feeds the drinking water system of some of the largest cities in the West, including Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix. It also brings to life twelve tribes of Native Americans.

In the plan drawn, Arizona, California and Nevada have not specified which parts will stop receiving the flow of the river. The goal, however, is to keep reserves at Mead Lakes, which is outside Las Vegas, above 30 percent of capacity, their level today.

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