Tag Archive for: Colorado River

SoCal Water Leaders Announce Landmark Regional Water Partnership

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The San Diego County Water Authority and Western Municipal Water District today announced a historic long-term regional water supply agreement that strengthens water reliability and creates a paradigm shift in how water providers share resources across the region to benefit millions of customers.

Together, the agencies serve communities representing more than 4 million Southern California residents across Riverside and San Diego counties.

“This agreement is a win for San Diego ratepayers, a win for Western, and a win for Southern California,” said Water Authority Board Chair Nick Serrano. “It allows us to maximize the value of the investments San Diego County residents made over decades, strengthen water reliability, and do so in a way that is mindful of affordability and public responsibility. It is exactly the kind of innovative, collaborative approach this moment demands.”

Under the agreement, Western Water will receive a minimum of 10,000 acre-feet of water annually over the next 21 years, enough to supply approximately 30,000 Southern California households each year and strengthen long-term water reliability for the communities it serves. Western Water is also pre-purchasing approximately 30,000 acre-feet of water for future delivery, a nearly $40 million investment that provides added flexibility during drought.

The partnership will generate approximately $13.5 million annually in revenue for the San Diego County Water Authority, with the agreement expected to deliver roughly $100 million over the first five years after accounting for the upfront payments. Those revenues help offset the cost of long-term water supply investments while making efficient use of existing regional water supplies.

The Water Authority’s current draft Urban Water Management Plan confirms that the agency’s diversified portfolio of water supplies, combined with a sustained commitment to water-use efficiency, will meet the region’s water needs through 2050, even during multiple dry years. That means the Water Authority can continue providing reliable water for San Diego County while making the most of long‑term investments through agreements like the one with Western Water. Revenues generated through those agreements help reduce wholesale water rate pressures for San Diego County customers.

“The county’s ratepayers continue to benefit from investments in water conservation that give us flexibility to balance water affordability and reliability,” said Water Authority General Manager Dan Denham. “This agreement would not have been possible without the incredible team at Western Water that shares our commitment to visionary leadership and collaboration in developing a new way to think about water resources.”

For Western Water, the partnership strengthens long-term water supply planning by securing access to highly reliable supplies at one of the most cost-effective opportunities available today.

Western Water serves nearly one million residents across southwest Riverside County, one of California’s fastest-growing regions, where planning ahead for dependable water supplies is essential for community stability and economic growth. By securing access to these supplies, Western Water strengthens drought protection and long-term supply planning without the cost, risk, or timelines associated with developing major new water supply projects.

“Partnerships like this show what is possible when water agencies work together,” said Laura Roughton, president of Western Water’s Board of Directors. “By sharing secured resources, we can strengthen water reliability for our communities while freeing up supplies that are needed elsewhere across the region. It’s a win for our customers, a win for San Diego, and a win for Southern California’s water system.”

Western Water and the Water Authority worked collaboratively to develop the agreement, reflecting a shared commitment to the health and resilience of Southern California’s water system for generations.

“With California’s water landscape shifting due to climate variability, economic and population growth, now is the time to pursue innovative partnerships that strengthen long-term water planning and affordability,” said Craig Miller, general manager of Western Water. “We appreciate the leadership and professionalism of the San Diego County Water Authority in helping make this partnership possible.”

The agreement builds on a series of innovative efforts by the Water Authority to make the most of its long-term water supply investments. Earlier this year, the Water Authority’s Board approved an agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to explore a pilot program that could allow desalinated seawater to be exchanged with Colorado River Basin states – another step aimed at strengthening water security across the Southwest while modernizing how regional water resources are managed.

Water purchased by Western Water will be delivered through existing connections within the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s regional pipeline system, meaning no new infrastructure is required. Because the water moves through existing facilities, transfers can be carried out efficiently without building new pipelines or treatment plants.

“Southern California is an economic engine for the nation, and its future depends on a secure and sustainable water supply,” said Metropolitan Board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. “This agreement was made possible by a legal settlement forged last year between Metropolitan and the Water Authority. That settlement gave birth to a new business model allowing the movement of water between our 26 member agencies. The water that is part of this agreement didn’t just fall from the sky. It was conserved by businesses and residents for the benefit of greater Southern California. Together, we are ensuring our region continues to thrive for generations to come and providing a model that can solve other water challenges in the Southwest.”

Low water conditions reveal the light-colored rink traces along the rock-wall shoreline at Lake Mead, showing the decreased water level from years of drought conditions in the Colorado River basin. Innovative water sharing agreements can help to mitigate this. Photo: Christopher Clark / U.S. Department of the Interior - Bureau of Reclamation

Board Approves Federal, Interstate Partnership on Colorado River

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The San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors today unanimously approved a landmark agreement to explore an interstate water transfer and exchange pilot program with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and agencies in Nevada and Arizona.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) – which still needs to be ratified by the other agencies – creates a pathway that could eventually allow the Water Authority to “move” water from the nation’s largest seawater desalination plant in Carlsbad to areas in the drought-ravaged Colorado River Basin that need more water. If successfully developed, this would create the first program to transfer water across state lines within the basin.

Such a program could help reduce water costs for working families in San Diego County by optimizing the region’s investments in reliability. Water purchases from the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant would generate new revenues and offset costs for residents, improving regional water affordability.

“This agreement could be a gamechanger for San Diego County and the entire Southwest because it creates the possibility of a new, collaborative path for moving water where it’s needed most while keeping reliability and affordability at the center for ratepayers,” said Water Authority Board Chair Nick Serrano. “Leveraging existing resources like our Carlsbad desalination plant in this moment simply makes sense for everyone.”

Water transfers or exchanges would occur “on paper,” meaning agencies would access supplies through existing infrastructure and avoid costly new infrastructure.

The demand is clear: In recent years, agencies in Arizona and Nevada have sought ways to tap the Pacific Ocean, but the costs of construction are prohibitive. The Arizona Department of Water Resources, Central Arizona Water Conservation District and Southern Nevada Water Authority are part of the new MOU.

For more than 20 years, the seven states in the Colorado River Basin have wrestled with drought conditions that have created growing imbalances between water supplies and demands. As the Bureau of Reclamation, Basin States, Mexico, and tribal nations consider new operating guidelines for the river, new management strategies and interstate partnerships are increasingly critical.

Over roughly the same period, the Water Authority has invested $3 billion in water reliability efforts, including the Carlsbad plant, which produces up to 54 million gallons per day. Additionally, the 2003 Colorado River Quantification Settlement Agreement – which generates conserved water in the Imperial Valley – and hard-wired conservation in the San Diego region have positioned the Water Authority to not only meet the region’s needs but also provide relief to other areas.

“Next-generation strategies must include interstate partnerships that deliver water where it’s needed most,” said Water Authority General Manager Dan Denham. “We appreciate the collaboration with the Bureau of Reclamation, Metropolitan Water District, Arizona and Nevada. New ideas are challenging to implement, but it’s in everyone’s best interest to make this work.”

Urban Water Management Plan-Water Authority-Primary photo-Colorado River Aqueduct

California Commits to Conservation, Collaboration in New Colorado River Framework

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California’s water, tribal, and agricultural leaders today presented a comprehensive framework for a durable, basin-wide operating agreement for the Colorado River and highlighted the state’s proposal for conserving 440,000 acre-feet of river water per year.

At the annual Colorado River Water Users Association conference, California underscored the state’s leadership in conservation, collaboration, and long-term stewardship of shared water resources that inform its approach to post-2026 negotiations.

California takes a balanced approach, relying on contributions from the upper and lower basins to maintain a shared resource. California supports hydrology-based flexibility for river users, with all states contributing real water savings. Any viable framework would need to include transparent and verifiable accounting for conserved water, along with several other elements outlined in the California framework.

State leaders also noted that they are willing to set aside many of their legal positions to reach a deal, including releases from Lake Powell under the Colorado River Compact, distribution of Lower Basin shortages, and other provisions of the Law of the River, provided that there are equitable and sufficient water contributions from every state in the Basin and the country of Mexico.

The Colorado River Basin provides essential water supplies to approximately 40 million people and 30 Tribal Nations, nearly 5.5 million acres of agricultural lands, and habitat for ecological resources across parts of several Western states (including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) and Mexico.

Constructive California

“California is leading with constructive action,” said JB Hamby, chairman of the Colorado River Board of California. “We have reduced our water use to the lowest levels since the 1940s, invested billions to modernize our water systems and develop new supplies, partnered with tribes and agricultural communities, and committed to real water-use reductions that will stabilize the river. We are doing our part – and we invite every state to join us in this shared responsibility.”

Despite being home to 20 million Colorado River-reliant residents and a farming region that produces the majority of America’s winter vegetables, California’s use of Colorado River water is projected at 3.76 million acre-feet in 2025 – the lowest since 1949.

That achievement comes on top of historic reductions in water use over the past 20 years, led by collaborative conservation efforts. Urban Southern California cut imported water demand in half while adding almost 4 million residents. And farms reduced water use by more than 20% while sustaining more than $3 billion in annual output. Tribes also have made critical contributions, including nearly 40,000 acre-feet of conserved water by the Quechan Indian Tribe to directly support river system stability.

Going forward, California is prepared to reduce water use by 440,000 acre-feet per year – in addition to existing long-standing conservation efforts – as part of the Lower Basin’s proposal to conserve up to 1.5 million acre-feet per year, which would include participation by Mexico.  When conditions warrant, California is also committed to making additional reductions to address future shortages as part of a comprehensive basin-state plan.

CRB Vice Chair and SDCWA Director Jim Madaffer at the 2025 CRUWA conference.

“The path to resiliency requires innovation, cooperation, and every Basin state’s commitment to conservation. The San Diego County Water Authority supports an approach that provides flexibility to adapt to changing climate conditions,” said CRB Vice Chair and SDCWA Director Jim Madaffer. “That means developing a new framework that allows for interstate water transfers to move water where it’s most needed and incentivizes the development of new supplies for augmentation.”

The state’s history of conservation illustrates what can be accomplished through collaboration, and all Colorado River water users in California are preparing to contribute to these reductions – agricultural agencies, urban agencies, and tribes.

Framework for a Post-2026 Agreement

In addition to conservation contributions, California provided a framework of principles for the post-2026 river operating guidelines to advance a shared solution for the seven Basin States, the tribes and Mexico. More specifically, California outlined the following key components for a new framework:

  • Lake Powell releases – California supports a policy of hydrology-based, flexible water releases that protects both Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Flexibility must be paired with appropriate risk-sharing across basins, avoiding disproportionate impacts to any one region.
  • Upper Initial Units (Colorado River Storage Project Act) – Releases should be made when needed to reduce water supply and power risks to both basins.
  • Shared contributions – The Lower Basin’s proposed 1.5 million acre-feet per year contribution to address the structural deficit, including an equitable share from Mexico (subject to binational negotiations), is the first enforceable offer on the table. When hydrology demands more, participation by all seven Basin States is essential.
  • Interstate exchanges – Interstate exchanges need to be part of any long-term solution to encourage interstate investments in new water supply projects that may not be economically viable for just one state or agency.
  • Operational flexibility – Continued ability to store water in Lake Mead is vital to maintain operational flexibility. California supports continuation and expansion of water storage in Lake Mead as a long-term feature of river management and to encourage conservation. We also support Upper Basin pools for conservation, allowing similar benefits.
  • Phasing of a long-term agreement – California supports a long-term operating agreement with adaptive phases. Tools like water storage in Lake Mead and Lake Powell need to extend beyond any initial period due to significant investments required to store conserved water in the reservoirs.
  • Protections and federal support: Any agreement should be supported with federal funding and any necessary federal authorities, allow agriculture and urban areas to continue to thrive, protect tribal rights, and address the environment, including the environmentally sensitive Salton Sea.

“There are no easy choices left, but California has always done what is required to protect the river,” said Jessica Neuwerth, executive director of the Colorado River Board of California. “We have proven that conservation and growth can coexist. We have shown that reductions can be real, measurable, and durable. And we have demonstrated how states, tribes, cities, and farms can work together to build a sustainable future for the Colorado River.”

Water Leaders Discuss the Future of the Colorado River

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The San Diego County Water Authority and partners convened an expert panel conversation on the future of the Colorado River for a packed room of Citizen Water Academy alumni and special guests on Sept. 5. The conversation, co-sponsored by the San Diego Global Affairs Council and the Burnam Center for Community Advancement and titled “The Future of the Colorado River”, comes as the deadline for negotiations on new river allocations approaches at the end of this year.

Panelists for the event also included Sally Spener, Foreign Affairs Officer with the International Boundary and Water Commission; Dan Denham, General Manager with the San Diego County Water Authority; Tina Shields, Water Department Manager with the Imperial Irrigation District; Jordan Joaquin Member and Past President of the Quechan Indian Tribe of Fort Yuma Indian Reservation and Carlos A. de la Parra, Founding Partner, with Centro Luken de Estrategias en Agua y Medio Ambiente in Tijuana.

Panelists at the “Future of the Colorado River” event put on by the San Diego County Water Authority.

Water Authority Board Chair Nick Serrano kicked things off, recognizing both the tenuous conditions on the ground but also the opportunities ahead.

“This is truly an extraordinary, unprecedented time for so many reasons,” Serrano said. “I believe history will look back on this moment as one where Southern California came together to secure the future of the Colorado River — not just for ourselves but for all those who depend on it.”

The speakers weighed in on the past, present and future of the Colorado River – with an emphasis on ongoing negotiations among the basin states and other interest groups on how to share this precious resource and what that holds for the 40 million residents of seven states, two countries and tribal nations who depend on this lifeline.

From the impacts of climate change, the perspective of the tribes and Mexico and a deep discussion on where things stand with negotiations on water use from the Colorado River, this lively conversation was both a cautionary conversation about the obstacles ahead but also included notes of optimism about where things are headed.

“I do think there is hope and I think that hope comes from the sense of urgency we all have to embrace,” said Denham.

Urban Water Management Plan-Water Authority-Primary photo-Colorado River Aqueduct

Value of Water, Explained

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For more than 80 years, the Water Authority and its 22 member agencies have worked together to deliver safe and reliable water to our community. Thanks to our coordinated efforts and investments, the 3 million people who call San Diego County home have the water they need for generations to come.

Where does San Diego’s Water Come From?

San Diego County has three main sources of water: The Colorado River (61%), local supplies (33%) and the State Water Project (6%). Together these three categories provide a diversified water supply to ensure we’ve got abundant options to keep the water flowing.

Local supplies – Seawater desalination, recycled water, water purification, and brackish groundwater, are sources of local water supplies in the San Diego region. Local water agencies have worked to maintain and create these supply sources, with support from the Water Authority. The Water Authority also invested in the Carlsbad Seawater Desalination Plant, brought online in 2015.

Colorado River – Most of the region’s water from the Colorado River is generated through increased conservation measures on farms and canals in the Imperial Valley.

State Water Project – The Bay-Delta is the hub of the State Water Project, a water storage and delivery system that is owned by the State of California and operated by the California Department of Water Resources. The Water Authority purchases State Water Project supplies through the Metropolitan Water District.

The Colorado River Basin provides essential water supplies to approximately 40 million people and 30 Tribal Nations, nearly 5.5 million acres of agricultural lands, and habitat for ecological resources across parts of several Western states (including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) and Mexico.

How far does water travel to reach San Diego?

Water can travel up to a thousand miles before coming out of your tap. Snow and rain falls in the Rocky Mountains and travels to the region through the Colorado River. For the State Water Project, rain falls in northern California over 500 miles from San Diego and travels to the region through water infrastructure. In addition, the region has a growing array of local water supplies, including desalinated seawater and recycled water.

What does San Diego’s water infrastructure look like?

The Water Authority takes ownership of pipelines just south of the Riverside-San Diego county borderline and maintains more than 300 miles of pipelines in San Diego County that transport water throughout the region. Local water agencies operate thousands of miles of smaller pipelines that deliver water to homes and businesses.

Karla Sanchez-Engineers Week-Senior Engineering Technician

Water Authority Senior Engineering Technician Karla Sanchez. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority

How many facilities does the Water Authority operate to keep our system running?

With 1,600 structures and over 100 flow control facilities, the Water Authority’s countywide infrastructure is vital to provide San Diego with a safe and reliable source of water.

What is leading to rate increases?

Water rates are rising across the state for a variety of reasons, including inflation that is driving up the cost of items like electricity, steel and chemicals needed for water delivery and treatment.

The Water Authority and its member agencies are not immune from those impacts. In fact, San Diego County’s strategic investments in supply reliability, coupled with the work to maintain the aqueduct system, means that residents and businesses will pay more for water in future years.

The good news is that even during long dry spells, the Water Authority can meet the regional demand for water that sustains our economy and quality of life.

 

What else is the Water Authority doing to help the region understand its role?

The world of water is a complex one that needs color and context. That’s why, over the past few months, the Water Authority has developed a bilingual (English/Spanish) outreach strategy to tell residents across the region who we are and what we do. This program delivers targeted messaging across multiple channels, focusing on the value of water, infrastructure investments, climate adaptation and the people who make the water systems work. We hope that this effort will provide a deeper appreciation of the Water Authority and a better understanding of everything we do.

Trump Adds Uncertainty to San Diego’s Water Future

/in , /by /San Diego Union Tribuneby Michael Smolens

President Donald Trump’s recent order to release water from reservoirs into California’s Central Valley had no direct impact on San Diego. But the new administration will be overseeing negotiations that will determine the future of a main source of the county’s water: the Colorado River.

It’s anybody’s guess whether Trump’s unpredictable nature and penchant for unorthodox power moves — as he just exhibited — will be a factor.

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San Diego County Water Supply is Stable Despite Dry Start to Rain Season

/in , /by /CBS 8by Alex Lai Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Even in San Diego, it’s typical to get some rain in the winter. Except this year, the San Diego County Water Authority said it’s the third driest start to the rainy season in 150 years.

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Seven States’ Colorado River Negotiators, All at Same Conference, Didn’t Meet Together

/in , , /by /ABC 7 (Denver)by Elise Schmelzer

The 40 million people who rely on the Colorado River will continue to wait for a long-term plan for its management as negotiations between the seven states in the river basin remain stalled.

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Utah’s Idea to Swap Colorado River Water for Desalination Plant Money May Not Be So Crazy After All

/in , , /by /Fox 13by Ben Winslow

An unusual idea floated by the president of the Utah State Senate to get more shares of Colorado River water is intriguing California water officials. Utah’s Department of Natural Resources

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Water Rights Agreement Will Save $20 Million, Help Protect Colorado River

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby Chris Jennewein Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

The San Diego County Water Authority announced a new multi-agency agreement this week that will save local water customers $20 million while protecting Colorado River supplies.

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