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A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 10 deceMber 2018

U.S. states to meet at deadline on Colorado River drought plan

By KEN RITTER it convenes in January. a statement on Friday, “be- ter Users Association meet- electric turbines humming
Associated Press Federal water manag- cause finding a consensus ings in December 2007 to at Glen Canyon Dam.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — With ers wanted a deal to sign deal recognizing the risks sign a 20-year “guidelines” The Lower Basin states of
drought entering a sec- at the annual Colorado of continuing drought and plan to share the burden of California, Arizona and
ond decade and reservoirs Nevada aim to keep Lake
continuing to shrink, seven Mead above a shortage
Southwestern U.S. states declaration trigger point
that depend on the over- by using less water than
taxed Colorado River for they’re legally entitled to.
crop irrigation and drinking If Lake Mead falls below
water had been expected that level, Arizona will face
to ink a crucial share-the- a 9 percent reduction in
pain contingency plan by water supply, Nevada a 3
the end of 2018. percent cut and California
They’re not going to make up to 8 percent. Mexico’s
it — at least not in time for share of river water would
upcoming meetings in Las also be reduced.
Vegas involving represen- Water officials in most
tatives from Arizona, Cali- states — from the Southern
fornia, Colorado, Nevada, Nevada Water Authority
New Mexico, Utah, Wyo- in Las Vegas to the Colo-
ming and the U.S. govern- rado River Water Conser-
ment, officials say. vation District in Glenwood
Arizona has been the hold- Springs, Colorado — have
out, with farmers, cities, In- signed off on plans in re-
dian tribes and lawmakers cent weeks.
in the state set to be first to In Arizona, the board gov-
feel the pinch still negotiat- erning the Central Arizona
ing how to deal with water In this July 28, 2014, file photo, lightning strikes over Lake Mead near Hoover Dam that impounds Project irrigation system
cutbacks when a shortage Colorado River water at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Arizona. approved the Lower Basin
is declared, probably in Associated Press plan on Thursday.
2020. In California, the sprawling
“There will be cuts. We all River Water Users Associa- the benefits of a drought a shortage. Contingency Metropolitan Water Dis-
know the clock is ticking. tion conference beginning contingency plan is in each agreements would update trict of Southern California,
That’s what a lot of the dif- Wednesday in Las Vegas, state’s best interest.” that pact, running through which serves some 19 mil-
ficult negotiations have and threatened earlier this Colorado River water sup- 2026. They call for volun- lion people, is set to ap-
been around,” said Kim year to impose unspecified ports about 40 million peo- tarily using less to keep prove it Tuesday.
Mitchell, Western Resource measures from Washing- ple and millions of acres of more water in the system’s Board members there were
Advocates water policy ton if a voluntary drought farmland in the U.S. and two main reservoirs, lakes reminded the agreements
adviser and a delegate to contingency plan wasn’t Mexico. Powell and Mead. are only a short-term fix.
ongoing meetings involv- reached. After 19 years of drought Lake Powell upstream from According to a board brief-
ing the Arizona Depart- However, Bureau of Recla- and increasing demand, of the Grand Canyon is ing, the Bureau of Recla-
ment of Water Resources, mation Commissioner Bren- federal water manag- currently at 43 percent ca- mation, seven basin states
Central Arizona Project, da Burman is signaling that ers project a 52 percent pacity; Lake Mead, down- and water contractors will
agricultural, industrial and the agency that controls chance that the river’s big- stream, is at 38 percent. begin negotiating again
business interests, the gov- the levers on the river is will- gest reservoir, Lake Mead Colorado, New Mexico, beginning no later than
ernor, state lawmakers and ing to wait. behind Hoover Dam, will fall Utah and Wyoming, the riv- 2020.
cities including Tucson and She is scheduled to talk to low enough to trigger cut- er’s Upper Basin states, aim “That process is expected
Phoenix. the conference on Thurs- backs under agreements to keep the surface of Lake to result in new rules for
In Arizona, unlike other day. “Reclamation remains governing the system. Powell above a target level management and opera-
states, a final drought con- cautiously optimistic that The seven states saw this to continue water deliver- tion of the Colorado River
tingency plan must pass the parties will find a path coming years ago, and ies to irrigation districts and after 2026,” the board brief-
the state Legislature when forward,” the bureau said in used Colorado River Wa- cities and also keep hydro- ing said.q