New Reclamation Commissioner Lauds Arizona Water Progress

Robert Johnson, recently appointed Bureau of Reclamation commissioner, contributed this Guest View. (See News Briefs for story of his appointment.)

It has been my pleasure to be involved in Arizona water issues for the past 27 years. While I have never lived in Arizona, my involvement in the Central Arizona Project and the Colorado River from Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Regional Office has provided me with a birds-eye view of the Arizona water scene. I believe I have experienced both the best of times and worst of times with many in Arizona’s water community. I must say, the best times far outweigh the worst times. I consider myself lucky to have been a small part of many of the accomplishments that have occurred
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Just to reminisce, during the last three decades, the CAP was constructed, the Arizona Groundwater Management Act was implemented, significant dam safety problems on the Salt River Project were alleviated, divisive litigation over CAP financial and operational issues was settled, and the Arizona Water Bank was established. In addition, interstate off-stream water banking programs were developed and implemented, Colorado River Surplus Operating Guidelines were implemented, California’s Colorado River water use was limited to 4.4 million acre-feet, Endangered Species Act compliance for the next 50 years on the lower Colorado River was achieved through the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Plan, numerous Indian water right settlements in Arizona were negotiated and implemented, and the Arizona Water Settlements Act was passed by Congress, providing a framework and financial structure to settle remaining Indian claims in Arizona.

Who ever said water issues never get resolved? Arizona water leaders should be proud of this record of accomplishment. In my view, Arizona’s efforts to plan for and meet its water needs are outstanding.
There is yet another effort currently underway which is every bit as important as the accomplishments listed above. Reclamation, through a public process that includes consultation with the seven Colorado River Basin States and others, is developing shortage and coordinated management guidelines for the Colorado River. An environmental review process currently underway is expected to be completed in December 2007.

These guidelines, when implemented, will: (1) provide specific criteria for the declaration of shortages to the Lower Division States (Arizona, California and Nevada); (2) provide a new framework for the coordinated operation of Lakes Mead and Powell; (3) implement a mechanism for the storage and delivery of conserved system and non-system water in Lake Mead; and (4) modify and/or extend the interim surplus guidelines through 2025.

Through this action, we anticipate that individual entities in the Lower Basin will be able to develop storage credits through extraordinary conservation as well as augment existing water supplies through interstate water exchange programs. Furthermore, this action will provide a greater degree of certainty to water users, particularly in Arizona, with regard to future Colorado River water supplies.

The consensus reached by the Basin states and submitted to the Secretary in February is a major accomplishment in the Basin. Through their preliminary agreement, the states have set aside longstanding differences over interpretation of the 1922 Colorado River Compact in favor of pragmatic approaches to operating the river. Under the proposal, all seven states gain practical benefits.

California gains the flexibility to develop storage credits in Lake Mead, allowing water to be stored for future diversion when needed. This will allow water users in California to use Colorado River water in conjunction with other water supplies within the state, ultimately providing the operational flexibility to conserve significant amounts of water.

Through the development of storage credits and exchanges, Nevada obtains a significant benefit in the increased ability to augment its Colorado River water supply to meet its growing needs. This flexibility would allow the state to develop its in-state water supplies, such as groundwater, while also augmenting its supplies through future water exchanges.

The proposed agreement would provide the Upper Division states — Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming — with more operational flexibility with Lake Powell. Under current operating guidelines, Lake Powell fluctuates significantly while Lake Mead remains more stable. The proposal by the states will, in simplified terms, allow the two lakes to move up and down together. This will protect recreational uses and power generation at Lake Powell while still allowing the upper basin to meet its compact obligation for water deliveries to the lower basin.

Arizona gains in a number of ways. The development of storage credits and exchanges will help Arizona augment its future water supply needs, especially in times of shortage. And maintaining higher elevations in Lake Powell would significantly benefit recreation in the City of Page and the surrounding area, as well as benefit power users in Arizona who receive a significant share of Glen Canyon Dam’s power generation.
Most importantly for Arizona, the states’ proposal offers modest and staged implementation of shortages should they occur in the lower basin. Under the proposal, shortages would be incurred when Lake Mead reaches elevation 1075 feet above mean sea level (approximately 145 feet below full), and would be limited to 400,000 acre-feet (less than one-third of the amount Arizona routinely diverts into the CAP each year). If Lake Mead continued to drop, and reached elevation 1025, shortage levels would be limited to 600,000 acre-feet. While the CAP must bear the brunt of lower basin shortages, these amounts are very manageable within its 1.5 million acre-foot normal supply.

In short, the elements of the basin states proposal offer benefits for all the states and users of the Colorado River system. On behalf of the Secretary, the Department of the Interior is carefully considering the proposal, along with other alternatives, as part of the environmental compliance process. Only after fully evaluating all the alternatives and considering public input will the Secretary be able to select and implement a set of operating guidelines. A draft environmental impact statement is expected to be published in February 2007. All interested parties are encouraged to review and comment on the proposals.

When the new operating guidelines are completed, we expect they will be another accomplishment to be shared by all the parties involved in shaping water management on the Colorado River. Arizona water leaders should again be proud of the role they have played in this effort.

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