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BOULDER CITY, Nev. — Federal officials say they are weighing a few options to tweak operations at the Glen Canyon Dam by the Utah-Arizona border and Hoover Dam by the Arizona-Nevada border as they seek to stabilize and sustain dwindling water flows in the Colorado River.
Officials with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation released three potential alternatives for the future of the dams that hold Lake Powell and Lake Mead, respectively, as a part of a draft supplemental environmental impact statement.
Any changes would cut water usage by 2 million acre-feet in the next few years. Utah and other Upper Colorado River Basin states would not face any cuts from any of the possible amendments.
- No action: This action is to make no adjustments to the current 2007 agreement of the dams, which department officials said would lead to "further deteriorating" of the water supply and hydrologic functions as water levels continue to drop.
- Alternative 1: Reduce releases from the Glen Canyon Dam and give priority to senior water rights holders in the Lower Colorado River Basin, which includes Arizona, California and Nevada. This would aim to save an estimated 2.083 million-acre-feet, the maximum that can be reduced by the emergency action.
- Alternative 2: Reduce releases from the Glen Canyon Dam and keep the same percentage of water shares among the three Lower Colorado Basin River states. This would also aim to save an estimated 2.083 million-acre-feet.
Experts say the two alternatives will impact the three low basin states differently. Environment & Energy Publishing reported that California, as the senior water rights holder, would benefit more from Alternative 1, while Alternative 2 would force all three to "share the pain of future shortages proportionally."
The alternatives will be open to a 45-day public comment period beginning on Friday. That period will end on May 30 before a final plan is determined in August. If any changes are made, they will be implemented in 2024 and remain in place through the end of the current agreement in 2026, said Camille Calimlim Touton, the commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation.
"Drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin have been two decades in the making. To meet this moment, we must continue to work together, through a commitment to protecting the river, leading with science and a shared understanding that unprecedented conditions require new solutions," she said in a statement.
Federal officials announced the update during an event at Hoover Dam, overlooking the quarter-full Lake Mead on Tuesday morning. Interior Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau said that Tuesday's announcement follows "robust engagement" with the Colorado River Basin states and tribes over the past week and "months of intensive discussion" over the future of the river.
The river provides water for more than 40 million Americans, including about 60% of all Utahns, according to the Utah Division of Water Resources.
While this year's precipitation is helping many states out of current droughts, he said prolonged droughts still impacting the basin are one of the "most significant challenges facing our country today." In addition to Lake Mead's struggles, Lake Powell remains at about 21.7% capacity after falling to an all-time low again in February.
"We're thankful for this winter snow and rain ... but everyone who lives and works in the basin knows that one good year will not save us from more than two decades of drought," Beaudreau said. "We've had other good precipitation years during this 23-year drought and yet the downward trajectory of this system has worsened. We cannot kick the can on finding solutions."
Beaudreau explained that the options unveiled Tuesday are among several ways the Interior Department is looking to help the region as the conditions continue, which also include funding for drought resilience in the region. The Bureau of Reclamation also began looking into revising the operating guidelines at Glen Canyon and Hoover dams in October.
Touton adds that water managers, farmers, municipalities and other water users were also consulted over the past few months in addition to the states and tribal leaders who use the Colorado River, as the Bureau of Reclamation pieces together its alternatives.
As that process unfolded, Utah joined five other states on a proposed agreement this winter to reduce 2 million-acre-feet of water in the Lower Colorado River Basin. Gov. Spencer Cox said in February that he was hopeful the states could come to an agreement on how to better use the water given ongoing drought concerns.
More information about the upcoming public comment period and how to provide comments can be found on the bureau's website.
