Colorado River water usage has been a point of contention ever since the first compact was drawn up in the early 20th century, but over usage has drained the river, leaving it at a fraction of its normal level. After months of contentious debates, the states have finally reached a settlement, and while it’s not perfect, it is a start.
Signed in 1922, the Colorado River compact provided seven U.S. states and Mexico rights to the water according to what they required to sustain their population and agricultural industries, with Nevada getting the least and California the most. The states are divided into two categories: Upper Basin and Lower Basin, with those states receiving water from different reservoirs along the river.
The main flaw of the compact is that it was drawn up with the rainfall of 1920 in mind, not today’s drought-heavy conditions more representative of the region. The whole Southwest region has experienced severe drought for the last twenty years (although this winter was unusually wet for most states), having a dire effect on the waterways of the region. When snowpack melts in late spring, water seeps down the mountains to join the river. However, drought has caused water to be soaked up by the dry ground. Without ample sources of replenishment, states are taking more water from the Colorado River than the basin has to offer.
There is resentment between these states, some seeing the others as not contributing enough toward solving the problem. Arizona blamed other states, with an official stating that his state “continue[s] to carry a disproportionate burden of reductions for the benefit of others who have not contributed.” With a dire need for reform, the federal government stepped in to negotiate. Arizona, California and Nevada have agreed to use a million acre feet less a year.
While the terms of the agreement aren’t entirely public yet, this agreement appears to show the government paying users in those states $1.2 billion for their reduced usage. These cuts are only a small part of what was originally called for by the Bureau of Reclamation, originally intended to be around cuts of 2 to 4 million acre feet.
How these cuts will be implemented is still unknown. Southern California is likely to need less water this year because of the state’s heavy rainfall, but future need remains uncertain. Still, some farm districts have pledged to reduce their water usage, from The Imperial Valley and Palo Verde Irrigation District to Coachella Valley. However, this deal is temporary. These cuts will only last until 2026, when states will need to return to the negotiating table. This is a step in the right direction, but more drastic cuts will be needed as the stress on the river from climate change continues to increase.
