Water Deficit on the Colorado River

Photographer: Thomas McGuire
Summary Author: Thomas McGuire

In 1922, the Colorado River Compact was established to share the river among seven states and Mexico. Available water was based on the first two decades of the 20th century: 16.5 million acre-feet per year. One acre-foot would cover a football field to a depth of about one foot and serve the needs of 2-4 homes. But there has become an annual deficit on the order of 2–4 million acre-feet. Due to climate change, even that may be optimistic. The Colorado River is simply overallocated.

The U.S. federal government has set a deadline for a new agreement by the end of 2026. At present, the lower basin states (California, Arizona, and Nevada) have jointly proposed a conservation plan. But the Upper Basin states (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) have not. Based on the complexity of the “Law of the River,” both sides have valid, but conflicting, legal arguments.

It will be settled, because it must. Conservation and economic changes can fill that deficit, but it'll be a bumpy ride to reach an agreement and avoid decades of litigation, such as Arizona vs California, 1952-1983.

The top photo here shows the low water levels in Lake Powell behind the Glen Canyon Dam. The bottom photo shows the Lake Powell ferry ramp at Bullfrog, Arizona, that was closed for three years. The blue sign in the foreground shows the shoreline level at full capacity.

 

Glen Canyon Dam Coordinates: 36.936927, -111.483708
Bullfrog-Halls Crossing Ferry, Lake Powell, Arizona Coordinates: 37.510407, -110.719718

Related Links:
The Law of the (Colorado) River
Precious Water for the Southwestern U.S.
Current Colorado River Conditions
The Author's Earth Science Books