Nevada Braces for 10-Year Colorado River Cuts of Up to Two-Thirds as Final Federal Plan Looms
Updated
Updated · Las Vegas Review-Journal · Aug 12
Nevada Braces for 10-Year Colorado River Cuts of Up to Two-Thirds as Final Federal Plan Looms
3 articles · Updated · Las Vegas Review-Journal · Aug 12
Summary
One-third to two-thirds of Nevada’s Colorado River allocation could be surrendered under the Trump administration’s proposed operating plan, and state negotiator John Entsminger said Wednesday he still does not know when the final rules will be issued.
The draft environmental impact statement would force Lower Basin states to provide up to 3.6 million acre-feet to protect reservoirs, while Upper Basin states would contribute only 200,000 acre-feet a year on a voluntary basis — a split Nevada and Arizona oppose.
Lake Mead hit its lowest elevation since the 1930s on Aug. 7, sharpening pressure for a deal as Nevada says the river supplies 90% of the water used by 76% of the state’s population.
Entsminger and former Reclamation commissioner Mike Connor said negotiations should continue to avoid a Supreme Court fight, though Nevada says it will defend its water rights if talks fail.
Nevada Democrats are also pressing Congress to revive drought funding, pointing to the earlier $4 billion federal program for conservation, fallowing and landscape conversion as the basin’s crisis deepens.