Tag Archive for: reclamation

Opinion: Finally, the Feds May Force Action to Save the Colorado River. What if It Comes Too Late?

/in , , , /by /The Arizona Republicby Joanna Allhands

Finally, the ball is rolling to force action on a plan to save the Colorado River. But will it come in time to make a difference? The seven states that rely on the river have been unable to voluntarily stop using enough water to keep a rapidly tanking Lake Mead and Lake Powell on life support. The feds stepped back from a threat this summer to force action if states couldn’t agree, preferring to rely on voluntary actions instead.

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Colorado River Conditions Are Worsening Quicker Than Expected. Feds Prepare to Step In.

/in , , /by /The Denver Postby Conrad Swanson

Running out of time and options to save water along the drying Colorado River, federal officials said they’re considering whether to release less water from the country’s two largest reservoirs downstream to Arizona, California and Nevada. Without enough snow this winter, the water level at Lake Powell — the country’s second-largest reservoir — will drop below a critical level by next November, according to a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

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Colorado River Managers Looking to Release Less Water from Lake Powell

/in , , /by /The Colorado Sunby Chris Outcalt

Colorado River managers looking to protect critical infrastructure at Lake Powell’s Glen Canyon Dam are seeking the ability to release less water from Powell next year as they work to rebalance demand on the troubled river. “We are taking immediate steps now to revise the operating guidelines to protect the Colorado River System and stabilize rapidly declining reservoir storage elevations,” reclamation commissioner Camille Touton said late last week in a written statement.

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