Fears are growing throughout the Colorado River basin regarding potential water cuts, lengthy legal battles, and other negative consequences after negotiators from seven states failed to reach a conservation agreement by a second deadline on Saturday.
Stalled Negotiations and Growing Concerns
The impasse in negotiations has created a new level of uncertainty surrounding the future of the river. Celene Hawkins, the Colorado River Program Director at The Nature Conservancy, stated on Wednesday, “This winter has been a really stark illustration of some of the challenges that we may face in keeping our watersheds and rivers and lands healthy.” She added, “And so I think it is really profoundly terrifying to think about moving into a future where we aren’t starting to really focus on implementing solutions that the basin needs.”
Conservation groups have proposed tools like conservation pools – offering incentives for voluntary water reductions – and a climate response indicator to determine water releases from Lake Powell, curtailing releases during drought conditions.
Impasse Between Upper and Lower Basin States
A recent summit in Washington, D.C., involving most of the river basin governors did not yield a breakthrough. States in the upper basin – Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico – remain at odds with those in the lower basin over water conservation. Negotiators from the upper basin states said last week, “Our downstream neighbors are seeking to secure water from the (upper division states) that simply does not exist.”
Arizona, California, and Nevada contend that the upper basin states are not agreeing to mandatory water restrictions during times of drought.
Potential Consequences of Continued Gridlock
Despite the stalled negotiations, Sinjin Eberle of American Rivers urged negotiators to continue working towards a solution. Eberle said on Wednesday, “Hang in there…Do your best to set aside your differences, because the hydrology is going to force the hand of a really dire situation if action isn’t taken now.”
Continued disagreement could jeopardize municipal water supplies, cause ecological damage to areas like the Grand Canyon, and negatively impact the recreation industry along the Colorado River, from Hot Sulfur Springs to Glenwood Springs.
Hawkins stated, “The courtroom is not the place” for states to find solutions to improve the health of the river, adding that litigation would divert resources from needed solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is causing the urgency surrounding the Colorado River negotiations?
Low snowpack across the west and grim forecasts for water supply in Lake Powell and Lake Mead are adding to the urgency of the talks.
What are conservation pools?
Conservation pools are tools proposed by conservation groups that would offer new incentives to voluntarily cut back and save water.
What could happen if the states continue to disagree?
Continued impasse could lead to litigation, diverting resources and potentially resulting in curtailed water supplies, ecological damage, and harm to the recreation industry.
As the Colorado River basin faces increasingly challenging conditions, will negotiators be able to overcome their differences and forge a path toward a sustainable future for this vital water resource?
