CRS 2019

Management of the Colorado River

Overview

  • The Colorado River Basin spans over 246,000 square miles across seven U.S. states: Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, and Mexico.

  • The Bureau of Reclamation manages water supplies in the basin under federal law.

  • Uses of Colorado River water:

    • Agricultural irrigation

    • Municipal and industrial (M&I) purposes

    • Power production

    • Fish and wildlife habitat

    • Recreational activities

  • Consumptive uses have exceeded natural flows in recent years, raising concerns about water supply imbalances due to ongoing drought since 2000.

  • Prospects for future water scarcity are exacerbated by increasing demand and climate change.

The Law of the River

  • The "Law of the River" is a set of laws, court decisions, and agreements governing the Colorado River's water management.

  • The foundational document is the Colorado River Compact of 1922, which apportioned annual water supplies:

    • Upper Basin: 7.5 million acre-feet (MAF)

    • Lower Basin: 7.5 MAF plus an additional 1.5 MAF for Mexico (1944 treaty).

  • The compact divides the basin at Lee Ferry, AZ, setting the framework for water allocation and management.

  • Federal legislation and court rulings have confirmed the Secretary of the Interior as the water master for the Lower Basin and established operational guidelines for water releases from major reservoirs.

Reservoir Management

  • Lake Powell and Lake Mead are critical indicators of the basin's water storage capacity.

  • Guidelines link dam operation to storage levels:

    • A shortage condition for Lake Mead is triggered if the elevation drops below 1,075 feet.

    • As of early 2019, there was a 69% chance of this condition occurring in 2020.

Drought Contingency Plans (DCPs)

  • In early 2019, drought contingency plans were authorized to mitigate water shortages in the Colorado River system:

    • Lower Basin states (Arizona, Nevada) committed to voluntary cutbacks at certain storage levels.

    • Reclamation pledged to enhance water conservation efforts.

Congressional Role

Federal Management and Oversight

  • Congress oversees the Colorado River's management, funding, and facilities to ensure compliance with environmental laws and settlements, particularly concerning endangered species.

  • Legislative focus areas include:

    • Indian water rights settlements

    • Development of water storage facilities

    • Mitigation of water shortages

    • Conservation funding initiatives.

Key Legislation and Agreements

The Law of the River: Foundational Documents

  1. Colorado River Compact (1922)

    • Established water allocation framework between the Upper and Lower Basins.

  2. Boulder Canyon Project Act (1928)

    • Ratified the compact and authorized Hoover Dam's construction, allocating water among Lower Basin states (California, Arizona, Nevada).

  3. Arizona v. California (1963) Supreme Court decision

    • Defined allocations and permitted Arizona's long-delayed water project to proceed.

  4. 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty

    • Set guidelines for water sharing between the U.S. and Mexico, including annual water deliveries.

  5. Upper Colorado River Basin Compact (1948)

    • Detailed water allocations for states in the Upper Basin.

  6. Colorado River Storage Project Act (1956)

    • Authorized storage projects in the Upper Basin to manage water supplies.

Environmental Considerations

  • Construction of water supply infrastructure initially overlooked significant environmental impacts.

  • Subsequent efforts include:

    • Salinity control efforts and establishment of water quality standards.

    • Endangered Species Act compliance initiatives aimed at protecting and restoring habitats.

Endangered Species Programs

  • Upper Colorado Endangered Fish Recovery Program (established 1988) - Focuses on the recovery of endangered fish species in the Upper Basin.

  • San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (established 1992) - Targets recovery of fish species in the San Juan River.

  • Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program (established 1997) - Aims to manage flow operations to mitigate adverse impacts on ecosystems.

  • Lower Colorado Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP) (started 2005) - Conserves 27 species while maintaining water and power supplies.

Drought Management and Demand

Supply/Demand Imbalance

  • Historical average flows of Colorado River were 16.4 MAF; recent averages show a sharp decline due to drought.

  • Prolonged dry conditions (2000-2018) were the driest period on record, averaging 12.4 MAF.

  • Ongoing drought has triggered concerns about potential shortages, including calls for cutbacks in user allocations.

Future Reservoir Management

  • Projections indicate that demand could increase significantly by 2050, further straining water supplies.

  • Reclamation's strategic planning focuses on improving reservoir storage and managing consumption, with options like water banking and transfers considered.

Conclusion

  • The management of Colorado River water supply is critical to balancing agricultural, municipal, environmental, and industrial needs amid changing climate conditions and growing populations.

  • Continued federal and state collaboration, alongside effective legislative oversight, will be essential to addressing the challenges facing the Colorado River Basin.


Assembling Evidence on Water Allotments in the Colorado River Crisis

Introduction

Understanding the management of the Colorado River and its crisis requires an examination of water allotments to states and tribes. The findings presented in the Congressional Research Service (CRS) 2019 report on the Colorado River provide critical insights into the growing challenges related to water distribution and scarcity in the basin. Here are five evidentiary points that underscore the complexity of the situation regarding water allotments.

1. Figure 1: Colorado River Basin and Areas That Import Colorado River Water

This figure maps the Colorado River Basin alongside the regions that import water from the river, illustrating the vast area dependent on its supply beyond the immediate basin states. It provides a clear visual of how interlinked the water needs are across multiple states and municipalities, underscoring that the water crisis transcends local jurisdictions. This evidence is particularly significant as it represents the broader implications of water allocation strategies; any changes in water allotments for the Basin states impact not only them but also all regions relying on Colorado River water imports. Recognizing this interconnectedness is vital for devising comprehensive and equitable solutions for water distribution

2. Figure 2: Colorado River Basin Water Allocations

This figure illustrates the baseline of water allocations across the states and Mexico as mandated by various legal agreements like the Colorado River Compact. The visual representation highlights that both the Upper and Lower Basins are allocated 7.5 million acre-feet (MAF) each annually, with an additional 1.5 MAF for Mexico. This helps define the problem because it emphasizes the strict legal framework restricting how much water each region can use, despite the growing demand and decreasing supply due to persistent drought conditions. Understanding this fixed allocation sheds light on the inevitable conflicts among states regarding water usage, especially during dry years.

3. Table 2: Lower Basin Water Curtailment Volumes Under Existing Agreements

This table outlines the volumes of water that would be curtailed in the Lower Basin under current agreements, specifically during shortage conditions. The figures indicate the amount of water that states like Arizona and Nevada would have to reduce from their allocations when reservoir levels fall below certain thresholds. By crystallizing the potential curtailments, this evidence clarifies the implications of ongoing drought and water scarcity on the legal obligations of each state. It further illustrates the significant disparities in water rights among the states and highlights the critical need for collaborative strategies to manage these reductions equitably, ensuring fair distribution amid declining resources.

4. Figure 3: Colorado River Reservoir Levels

The figure on reservoir levels demonstrates the falling water storage capacities of Lake Mead and Lake Powell over recent years. It indicates that Lake Mead, a critical water supply reservoir for millions, is approaching shortage levels, marked at an elevation of 1,075 feet. By evidencing the declining capacity of these reservoirs, the figure illustrates how actual water supplies are diminishing and reinforces the notion that water allotments based on historical averages may no longer be sustainable. This visual aids in understanding the dire situation as environmental conditions evolve, requiring a re-evaluation of water rights and distributions.

5. Figure 4: Changes in Basin Water Supply

This figure depicts the changes in the water supply of the Colorado River Basin over time, illustrating the impact of climate variability and long-term drought on water availability. It highlights a significant decline in water inflows, which directly affects the amount of water available for allocation. This evidence is crucial as it underscores the relationship between natural water supply fluctuations and the existing legal frameworks for water allotment. The downward trend in supply points to the inadequacy of current allocations to meet future demands, thereby emphasizing the need for immediate attention to rethink water distribution agreements.

.

Conclusion

The evidentiary points drawn from the CRS report are crucial in comprehensively understanding the factors exacerbating the Colorado River crisis. The fixed nature of water allotments, growing population pressures, declining reservoir levels, adaptive drought management strategies, and varied water use sectors reflect the challenges in water management. These discussions highlight the need for collaborative efforts and innovative solutions to align water rights and availability in light of a changing climate.