Thursday, June 16, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Input sought on Colorado River
Federal officials want public comments on how to operate lakes Mead, Powell
By HENRY BREAN
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Federal officials want your input as they prepare for discussions that could reshape how more than 25 million people in seven Western states share the Colorado River.
At issue is how best to operate the river's two key reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, as water levels drop from drought and increased demand by water users.
A notice published Wednesday in the Federal Register notes that future "low reservoir conditions may not be limited to drought periods as additional development of Colorado River water occurs."
Demand for water along the river has continued to increase even in the face of what the notice calls "the worst five-year drought in recorded history," one that has left Lake Powell at 46 percent of capacity and Lake Mead at 60 percent of capacity.
The Federal Register notice announces a pair of public meetings the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will hold next month to gather input on future management strategies for the river.
The first meeting will be July 26 at the Henderson Convention Center. The second will be July 28 in Salt Lake City. Both meetings are from 10 a.m. to noon.
Earlier this year, Interior Secretary Gale Norton called on the Lower Colorado River Basin states of Nevada, Arizona and California and the upper basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming to adopt management strategies for the lakes.
At the same time, Norton directed the states to agree for the first time on rules for dividing a shortage on the river.
If state leaders cannot come together on river operations and shortage criteria by 2007, the federal government will decide those issues for them, Norton said.
That debate could escalate old disputes between the upper and lower basins, Nevada water officials warned.
"I think people get a little more protective of their own when there's less" water available, said Kay Brothers, deputy general manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
Water authority General Manager Pat Mulroy said last month: "We will either come away from that table with huge changes on the Colorado River that benefit the seven basin states, or we will be in court."
About 90 percent of the Las Vegas Valley's drinking water comes from the river by way of Lake Mead.
Nevada has mostly insulated itself from a shortage on the river through its water banking agreement with Arizona. But Brothers said Southern Nevada's water supply could be threatened should the drought force deep cuts by the basin states.
New ways of managing the river also could result in more dramatic changes in the water level at Lake Mead, Brothers said.
The Bureau of Reclamation will accept written comments through Aug. 31.
In the lower basin, comments can be submitted by mail to: Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region, Attention: BCOO-1000, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City NV 89006-1470; by fax to 293-8156; or by e-mail to strategies@lc.usbr.gov.
In the upper basin, they can be mailed to: Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region, Attention: UC-402, 125 South State St., Salt Lake City UT 84318-1147; faxed to 801-524-3858; or sent by e-mail to strategies@uc.usbr.gov.
