by Julian Nguyen, contributor

The Colorado River has been a source of life for millions of people since the 1900s by being a major part of the ecosystem. Because of the unequal distribution of water, the states created the Colorado River Compact to make sure everyone got their share of water (1). However, in the past two decades, the river has declined by 20% since 2000 and is expected to decrease another 31% by 2050 (2).

Because of this drought, the states have been scrambling to find a solution. Currently, they have come up with two proposals: an upper basin and a lower basin proposal. The upper basin proposal puts mandatory cuts on the lower basin states, Nevada, California, and Arizona, when Lake Mead, a reservoir that provides to four of the basin states, falls behind a certain threshold while the upper basin states, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico, have voluntary cuts, and the lower basin proposal calls to “monitor water levels in seven different reservoirs… to determine when cuts will be necessary” (3).

The lower basin plan sounds the most balanced due to its decision being based on all the reservoirs in the Colorado River as opposed to just Lake Mead or Powell, and the upper and lower basin states would evenly split the water reductions (4). However, while the flexibility of the proposal may help reduce damage to the river by monitoring multiple levels of water in different areas, that may also hinder the decision-making process for the Bureau of Reclamation.

By using this vast amount of data, the complexity of the situation would lead to more debating and will delay the resolution, which may cause further harm to the river. Unlike its counterpart, the upper basin proposal is much more straightforward. By basing the water cuts on the water level of a single reservoir and forcing the lower basin states to take those reductions, they simplify the decision, which could help the river save its water for longer.

However, because only the lower basin states have mandatory reductions, the proposal makes the upper basin states look like they want to have control over the water, and the uncertainty of the states’ contribution to water conservation also concerns other states. As Tom Buschatzke, the CEO of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, puts it, he wants to see how “they help contribute to the protection of the river system in a way that has certainty” (5).

In 2026, the current rules that the Colorado River has been guided by for the past two decades will expire, and the basin states will be forced to decide between the two proposals. To get as many states as possible to agree to the upper basin plan, Colorado and the other basin states need to show that they would voluntarily protect the river.

Doing that requires the people of Colorado to contribute to the cause. Charting a course for large-scale actions such as conserving water at home, supporting conservation organizations, participating in river clean-up events, and advocating for policy changes can prove to the lower basin states that they will not be the only ones conserving the Colorado River. Each person has a role in saving it for generations to come, and the actions of each citizen today can impact the future.

The river is a precious resource for all of America, and because of that, it must be treated as such. By remaining vigilant and active in ensuring the Colorado River’s safety, the future of the basin states is secure.

 

Footnotes

[1] “Colorado River Compact.” Water Education Foundation, www.watereducation.org/aquapedia-background/colorado-river-compact.

[2] “Charting a Future for the Colorado River.” The Nature Conservancy, 13 Feb. 2023, www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/colorado/stories-in-colorado/colorado-charting-a-future-for-colorado-river/.

[3] Nilsen, Ella. “With New Plans, Colorado River States Draw Battle Lines over Who Should Bear the Brunt of Future Water Cuts.” CNN, Cable News Network, 6 Mar. 2024, www.cnn.com/2024/03/06/us/colorado-river-water-crisis-west-climate/index.html.

[4] Solis, Jeniffer. “Colorado River Basin States Pitch Two Alternative Plans • Source New Mexico.” Source New Mexico, 11 Mar. 2024, sourcenm.com/2024/03/11/colorado-river-basin-states-pitch-two-alternative-plans/.

[5] Nilsen, Colorado River States.

Bibliography

“Charting a Future for the Colorado River.” The Nature Conservancy, 13 Feb. 2023, www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/colorado/stories-in-colorado/colorado-charting-a-future-for-colorado-river/.

“Colorado River Compact.” Water Education Foundation, www.watereducation.org/aquapedia-background/colorado-river-compact.

Nilsen, Ella, “With new plans, Colorado River states draw battle lines over who should bear the brunt of future water cuts,” March 6, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/06/us/colorado-river-water-crisis-west-climate/index.html.

Solis, Jeniffer. “Colorado River Basin States Pitch Two Alternative Plans • Source New Mexico.” Source New Mexico, 11 Mar. 2024, sourcenm.com/2024/03/11/colorado-river-basin-states-pitch-two-alternative-plans/.