The Interior Department will consider five options as it develops a new framework to govern Colorado River water cuts after current guidelines expire in 2026, according to a new report by the agency.
The report comes amid disagreement between the lower basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada and the upper basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming in negotiations over a framework for conserving water in times of shortage.
One possibility would include lower basin cuts up to a maximum of 3.5 million acre-feet based on the combined storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead.
Another would apply up to 3.5 million acre-feet of lower basin cuts based on storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead, with upper basin states contributing conservation of up to 200,000 acre-feet.
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A third would base lower basin cuts of up to 4 million acre-feet on the combined storage of seven reservoirs, as well as hydrology in the river system, with shortages based on priority. Upper basin states would need to conserve an average of 200,000 acre-feet annually.
A fourth proposal bases shortages on the combined storage of seven reservoirs, with lower basin states seeing cuts of up to 2.1 million acre-feet while upper basin states provide up to 200,000 acre-feet of conservation based on hydrological conditions.
Finally, the agency also will study the possibility of taking no action.
Interior will work on analyses for a draft Environmental Impact Statement, which likely will come out later this year, according to the report.
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