On August 16, 2022, the Department of Interior announced the Colorado River had reached a Tier 2 shortage, triggering additional water cuts. In June, the Bureau of Reclamation gave the seven Colorado River Basin states – Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming – until August 15th to reach a voluntary agreement on how to share the reduced water allocation of 2 to 4 million acre feet. The deadline has passed with no agreement reached.
The Tier 2 designation means that some state’s water use will be significantly reduced further, effective January 2023. Arizona faces a 21 percent reduction, Nevada by 8 percent and Mexico by 7%.
The full text of the announcement, with a companion water study, may be accessed below.
https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/24mo/2022/AUG22.pdf
CSG West has created the Colorado River Forum, comprised of appointed legislators from the seven Colorado Basin States and Mexico, to address and engage in the present challenges faced by the Colorado River Region, and its future as the life blood of western agriculture, hydropower, drinking water, recreational and environmental health.
The Colorado River Forum will meet October 17-20, 2022 in Henderson, Nevada. For more information, please contact Jackie Tinetti [email protected]
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