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Reclamation’s Commissioner Brenda Burman called on the seven Colorado River Basin States and water entitlement holders in the Lower Colorado Basin to continue developing Drought Contingency Plans in her first public remarks after taking office in December 2017. This call responds to ongoing historic drought conditions in the basin and reduces the likelihood of Colorado River reservoirs – particularly Lake Powell and Lake Mead – further declining to critical elevations.
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The Current
Reclamation's Biweekly Newsletter
October 19, 2018
Colorado River Drought Conservation Plans
Reclamation’s Commissioner Brenda Burman called on the seven Colorado River Basin States and water entitlement holders in the Lower Colorado Basin to continue developing Drought Contingency Plans in her first public remarks after taking office in December 2017. This call responds to ongoing historic drought conditions in the basin and - the Plans, if adopted, would reduce the likelihood of Colorado River reservoirs – particularly Lake Powell and Lake Mead – further declining to critical elevations.
In May 2018, Commissioner Burman again emphasized the need for prompt action following another year of low runoff in the ongoing drought and called on the states to complete their drought planning by December of 2018. On October 9, 2018, the states published their draft agreements. “I commend the efforts to date of our partners in the Lower Basin,” said Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Regional Director Dr. Terry Fulp. “I encourage them to take the steps necessary to finalize these plans by December. We need to take action now to ensure the sustainability of the Colorado River system.” “I’m very encouraged by the work of the Upper and Lower Basin States to move forward with these agreements,” said Reclamation’s Upper Colorado Regional Director Brent Rhees. “The states have come together to develop plans and programs to respond to the ongoing historic drought and we are hopeful these plans will be finalized this year.”
The agreements published on October 9 include an Upper Colorado River Basin Drought Contingency Plan and a Lower Colorado River Basin Drought Contingency Plan:
- The Upper Basin DCP is designed to protect critical elevations at Lake Powell and helps assure continued compliance with the 1922 Colorado River Compact and establish the foundation for the storage of water in the Upper Basin as part of a Demand Management Program that may be developed.
- The Lower Basin DCP is designed to require Arizona, California and Nevada to contribute additional water to Lake Mead storage at predetermined elevations and create additional flexibility to incentivize additional voluntary conservation of water to be stored in Lake Mead.
The Upper and Lower Basin DCPs contain actions in addition to the provisions of the December 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and the Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The Upper and Lower Basin DCPs are available at: https://www.usbr.gov/dcp/docs/DCP_Agreements_Final_Review_Draft.pdf.
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Recent News
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The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $4,494,290 contract on September 18 to Brooklyn Iron Works, Inc., a small business from Spokane, for a supply of one set of main unit steel stoplogs, and still to be determined, an optional second set of stoplogs. Reclamation is purchasing a set for $2,277,740, and the optional second set is $2,216,550. Learn More →
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In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Bureau of Reclamation is conducting an Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding the potential environmental effects of constructing and operating three wells to pump water from the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer into Falls Irrigation District’s existing canal distribution system. The project area is located in southeast Idaho near American Falls, approximately 22 miles southwest of Pocatello, Idaho. Learn More →
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The Bureau of Reclamation has opened a funding opportunity for watershed groups to seek funding to implement on-the-ground watershed management projects for their communities. The funding provided through the Cooperative Watershed Management Program helps local stakeholders develop local solutions that will improve water reliability while reducing conflict, addressing complex water issues and stretching limited water supplies. Learn More →
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The Bureau of Reclamation is launching a new prize challenge seeking new or improved techniques to remove sediment from reservoirs in a cost-effective manner. Sedimentation in reservoirs can be a significant problem by limiting the active life of reservoirs by reducing available water storage capacity or flood control benefits. Sedimentation also impacts dam outlets, reservoir water intakes, water quality, recreation, upstream flood stage, and downstream habitat. Learn More →
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The Bureau of Reclamation and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California today issued a Draft Environmental Assessment/Initial Study-Negative Declaration for a proposed 635-acre conservation area to be created as part of the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program. Learn More →
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The Bureau of Reclamation has released a draft Finding of No Significant Impact and Environmental Assessment for the Animas Water Quality and Resilience Improvement Project. The proposed project would implement riparian and streambank restoration activities at three sites identified in the Lower Animas River Watershed Based Plan, including the Flora Vista River and Riparian Restoration; Ruins Road Riparian Pasture Improvement; and Road 3133 Riparian Revegetation. Learn More →
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Prize Competition
Reclamation and its collaborators are launching a new prize competition seeking new or improved techniques for reservoir sediment removal and transport of the removed sediment in a cost-effective manner that preserves and sustains the operational objectives of the reservoir. Reservoir sedimentation has become a significant problem with the aging of water storage facilities. Sediment deposition in reservoirs limits active life of reservoirs by reducing reservoir storage capacity for water supply or flood risk reduction. Sedimentation also impacts dam outlets, reservoir water intakes, water quality, recreation, upstream flood stage, and downstream habitat.To learn more about this prize competition and other competitions Reclamation has hosted, please visit https://www.usbr.gov/research/challenges/index.html.
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Main Photo Caption
The Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam. |
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