- Reclamation
- Colorado River Basin
Colorado River Basin
Current Focus
Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources:
The Senate held a committee hearing to examine short- and long-term solutions to extreme drought in the Western U.S. Commissioner Camille C. Touton testified to the committee that states within the region will need to conserve between 2-to-4-million-acre feet in 2023 to protect Lake Mead and Lake Powell's reservoirs.
Listen to the full hearing here: Full Committee Hearing To Examine Short And Long Term Solutions To Extreme Droug... (senate.gov)
Protection Volume Analysis:
The science behind the 2-to-4-million-acre conservation effort was a recently conducted Protection Volume Analysis by Reclamation to better understand the amount of additional water or conservation that would be needed to maintain critical elevations at Lake Powell and Lake Mead for the next four years (2023-2026). The analysis shows that it would take approximately 600,000 acre-feet to 4.2 maf per year, starting next year, to maintain critical elevations in Lake Powell and Lake Mead. This water is in addition to efforts that are already in place or under development, such as Lower Basin shortages as defined in the 2007 Interim Guidelines and Minute 323 with Mexico, water savings contributions under the Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan and Minute 323, and the Lower Basin's 500+ Plan. The analysis also takes into account the 2022 Drought Response Operation Agreement release and the reduced annual release from Glen Canyon Dam.
To view the findings of the Protection Volume Analysis and Colorado River System mid-term projections, visit: Colorado River System Mid-term Projections Link is to a PDF file
News Releases
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News Release – June 23, 2022
WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation today published a Federal Register notice to assist in its efforts to develop future Colorado River operating provisions. Several decisional documents and agreements that govern the operation of crucial Colorado River facilities, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, and the management of Colorado River water will expire at the end of 2026. The notice seeks specific input on how to foster meaningful participation by all stakeholders in preparation for beginning the National Environmental Policy Act process to develop post-2026 operating approaches for the Colorado River, and operating strategies to address post-2026. Read More
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News Release – June 9, 2022
DENVER – The drought currently impacting the upper Colorado River Basin is extremely severe. A new study from federal government and university scientists led by the Bureau of Reclamation and published in Geophysical Research Letters identifies a second-century drought unmatched in severity by the current drought or previously identified droughts. Read More
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News Release – May 9, 2022
WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior today announced an investment of $240.4 million for infrastructure repairs in fiscal year 2022 from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program, facilitated through the Bureau of Reclamation, includes significant repairs on canal linings, dam spillways and water pipeline replacements. Read More
Reclamation welcomes public input on development of future Colorado River operations during historic drought 
New study finds extreme, severe drought impacting the upper Colorado River basin in the second centuryProjected Operations
Reclamation's Upper and Lower Colorado Basin Regions generate a set of standard projections of Colorado River Basin system conditions at regular intervals to determine reservoir operations and assist with planning. These projections focus on annual to mid-term projections, with monthly updates to two-year projections, and updates to projections beyond two years occurring several times throughout the year.
More information about Reclamation's current projections can be found below.
- 24-Month Study Projections (updated monthly)
- 2-Year Probabilistic Projections (updated monthly)
- 5-Year Probabilistic Projections (updated typically three times per year)
Annual Operating Plans for Colorado River Reservoirs
Each year's Annual Operating Plan for Colorado River Reservoirs reports on both the past operations of the Colorado River reservoirs for the completed year as well as projected operations and releases from these reservoirs for the current (i.e., upcoming) year.
Annual Operating Plans are developed in accordance with Section 602 of the Colorado River Basin Project Act Link is to a PDF file (Public Law 90-537); the Criteria for Coordinated Long-Range Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs Pursuant to the Colorado River Basin Project Act of September 30, 1968, as amended Link is to a PDF file, promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior; and Section 1804(c)(3) of the Grand Canyon Protection Act (Public Law 102-575).
AOPs are prepared in consultation with representatives of the Governors of the seven Colorado River Basin States, Indian Tribes, Upper Colorado River Commission, appropriate Federal agencies, and others interested in Colorado River operations.
Return to TopColorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead
In 2005, Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, Reclamation began public scoping meetings and preparing an EIS for the development of Lower Colorado River Basin Shortage Guidelines and Coordinated Management Strategies for Operation of Lake Powell and Lake Mead Under Low Reservoir Conditions. The Secretary of the Interior has directed Reclamation to develop additional Colorado River management strategies to address operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead under low reservoir conditions by 2007.
These operational guidelines provided Colorado River water users and managers in the United States a greater degree of certainty about how the two large reservoirs on the Colorado River will be operated under low water conditions, and when – and by how much – water deliveries will be reduced to the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California, and Nevada in the event of drought or other low reservoir conditions. In a separate, cooperative process, Reclamation worked through the State Department to consult with Mexico regarding potential water delivery reductions to Mexico under the 1944 Treaty with the United States.
A ROD was signed by the Secretary in December 2007 that implements the interim operational guidelines that will be in place through 2026. The key components of the guidelines are:
- a shortage strategy for Lake Mead and the Lower Division states,
- coordinated operations of Lakes Powell and Mead through a full range of operations,
- a mechanism for the creation and delivery of conserved system and non-system water in Lake Mead (Intentionally Created Surplus), and
- the modification and extension of the existing Interim Surplus Guidelines.
Consistent with Section XI.G.7.D. of the 2007 Interim Guidelines Record of Decision, Reclamation completed a review of the implementation of the Guidelines (7.D. Review). The review is a retrospective look at past operations and actions under the 2007 Interim Guidelines and is not a consideration of future activities. Through this 7.D. Review, Reclamation built a solid technical foundation that informs future consideration of operations and brings partners, stakeholders, and the public to common understanding of past operations and their effectiveness. The 7.D. Review was completed in December 2020.
Reclamation anticipates formally starting the National Environmental Policy Act process to develop the post-2026 operations with the beginning of the formal scoping process in early 2023. As the focus shifts to the declining storage, increasing risk of water shortages in the Colorado River Basin and short-term response actions, Reclamation recognizes the importance of simultaneously planning for the longer-term. The goal is to develop a robust public involvement approach that will appropriately include meaningful and timely engagement with the Basin States, tribes, partners, and stakeholders to ensure their objectives and priorities are considered.
Return to TopFinal Report of the Review of the 2007 Interim Guidelines (7.D. Review)
Reclamation released the Final Report of the 7.D. Review on December 18, 2020.
Through the 7.D. Review, Reclamation intended to bring partners, stakeholders, and the public to a common understanding of past operations under the 2007 Interim Guidelines and their effectiveness. The goals of the Review were to: evaluate the effectiveness of the Guidelines and document Reclamation's operational experience since the Guidelines were adopted. The 7.D. Review Report will be one of many references and sources of input considered when work begins to determine Lake Powell and Mead operations after 2026.
The Final Report concluded:
- The 2007 Interim Guidelines were largely effective as measured against both their stated purpose and common themes as provided in the 2007 Record of Decision.
- Increasing severity of the drought necessitated additional action to reduce the risk of reaching critically low elevations in Lakes Powell and Mead.
- Experience over the past 12 years provides important considerations:
- enhanced flexibilities and transparency for water users
- expanded participation in conservation and Basin-wide programs
- increased consideration of the linkage that occurs through coordinated reservoir operations, particularly with respect to the inherent uncertainties in model projections used to set operating conditions
- demonstrated need for more robust measures to protect reservoir levels
The Final Report is available here:
- Final Report, Review of the Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead Link is to a PDF file
- Final Report, Appendix A – Operational Documentation for Lake Powell and Lake Mead Operations Under the Colorado River 2007 Interim Guidelines Years 2008 to 2019 Link is to a PDF file
Click here for more info on the development of the 7.D. Review & Report
Return to TopOperating under the 2007 Interim Guidelines
The 2007 Interim Guidelines are in place from 2008 through December 31, 2025 (through preparation of the 2026 Annual Operating Plan). Reclamation’s Upper and Lower Colorado Basin Regions manage the operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead pursuant to the Record of Decision for the 2007 Interim Guidelines Link is to a PDF file. The coordinated operational diagram below outlines the coordinated reservoir operations of both reservoirs at different pool elevations. Several implementing agreements were executed concurrent to the issuance of the 2007 ROD, related to forbearance and the creation and delivery of ICS by Lower Basin contractors, as well as subsequent agreements for System Efficiency ICS projects.
Contact Us
Upper Colorado Basin Region
Please contact the Upper Colorado Basin Region Public Affairs Office via e-mail at ucbpao@usbr.gov for additional questions or information.
Lower Colorado Basin Region
Please contact the Water Operations Control Center via e-mail at bcoowaterops@usbr.gov or via phone at (702) 293-8373 for additional questions or information.
