1. The Colorado River Basin
Larry MacDonnell
Senior Fellow, Getches-Wilkinson Center
2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

2. 2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

3. Overview
1,400 mile river passing through 7 states in the U.S. and 2 states in Mexico; 22 Indian reservations; 11 national parks
Provides water, at least in part, to nearly 40 million people
Water to irrigate about 5.5 million acres of land
Hydroelectric generation capacity of 4,200 megawatts
2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

4. Hydrology
13 to 18 maf/year
2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

5. Allocation of water uses (consumptive use)
“Law of the River” (compacts,treaty,legislation,etc):
1.5 million acre-feet (maf)/year to Mexico
8.5 maf/year to Lower Basin users
7.5 maf/year to Upper Basin users
Total: 17.5 maf/year
Rights of Indian tribes not expressly included
2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

6. Annual Uses—Consumption and Losses
Increased steadily during the 20th century
Peaked in 2003 at about 16 maf
Declining since then to about 15 maf
But supplies now averaging about 13 maf
2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

7. 60 maf of storage
2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

8. Hoover Dam and Lake Mead
2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

9. Basin Environmental Interests
Extensive water development has altered hydrology and river conditions causing loss of aquatic species and endangering survival of others; increased salinity
Implementation of major multi-stakeholder programs in Upper and Lower Basins
Shaping dam releases; restoring backwater channels; removing invasive species; restocking, etc.
Reviving the Delta in Mexico
A River No More
2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

10. 2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

11. Bathtub ring at Lake Mead
2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

12. 2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

13. Responses
Coordinate management of basin reservoirs to meet existing demands and offset depletions
-Authorized additional releases from Lake Powell to keep storage levels in Lake Mead high enough to avoid shortage declaration
2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

14. Responses
2. Clarified conditions that are regarded as a “shortage” of water and determined who would bear initial shortages; Mexico agreed to share shortages -currently negotiating agreement to institute shortage sharing at earlier point and to broaden who shares the shortages
2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

15. Responses
3. Encourage actions that conserve water or otherwise make additional water available -managing urban water demand through conservation -implementing system efficiencies, with water goes to entity(ies) paying for/ implementing the action -water can be stored in Lake Mead for later use (water banking)
2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

16. Responses
4. Promoting use of water from other sources -primarily desalinization
2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016

17. What next? Cap on depletions? Buy down/retire some existing uses?
Promote more water trading?
2016 Martz Summer Conference
6/9/2016