LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A temporary agreement has been reached between the Lower Basin States that will conserve millions of gallons of water from the Colorado River.
In a release on Monday, the U.S. Department of Interior announced the agreement between Nevada, Arizona and California, which will aim to conserve at least "3 million acre-feet of water through the end of 2026."
The proposal will have an emphasis on "early and large contributions" to "reduce the risk of Lake Mead and Lake Powell declining to critically low elevations," according to the release.
This news comes after Lake Mead recently reported a 12-foot rise in water levels, following the melting of the heavy snowpack in Colorado and an experimental water release from Lake Powell.
"There are 40 million people, seven states, and 30 Tribal Nations who rely on the Colorado River Basin for basic services such as drinking water and electricity," said Secretary Deb Haaland.
2.3 million acre-feet will be saved by compensating individuals, states, and Tribal Nations to reduce water usage, via funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, according to White House officials.
The proposal was turned in before the May 30 deadline but still needs approval before it can be implemented.
Congresswoman Dina Titus, a founding member of the bipartisan Colorado River Caucus, issued the following statement on the agreement:
“Given the Colorado River Basin’s rapidly changing water levels, all Basin states face a pressing need to work together to establish a path forward for water users in the region.
Now that Nevada, Arizona, and California have reached an agreement on a framework for water usage in the Lower Basin until 2026, I look forward to reviewing details once they are fully negotiated.
Nevada has been leading the way on water conservation, and should not bear the brunt of disproportionate decreases in allocation. All seven states must come to a fair-share agreement that meets the severity of this ongoing crisis.”
Congresswoman Susie Lee, who is also the Vice-Chair of the Colorado River Caucus, released the following statement on Monday.
“This deal is historic. Nearly 40 million people depend on the Colorado River for drinking water, and over a million depend on the electricity generated by the Hoover Dam. With Lake Mead at less than 30 percent capacity, the future of the Colorado River Basin remains uncertain. Continued collective action is not just a nicety — it’s a necessity. Today’s deal is one of the strongest collective actions that the Basin States have taken in combating the Western water crisis. I applaud our state negotiators and federal officials for their tireless efforts throughout the past year to reach this consensus.”
