Drought response

Nevada has agreed to its portion of the Colorado River Basin Drought Contingency Plan. If Arizona and California sign on, too, the three states would voluntarily reduce their river use to keep more water in Lake Mead, the surface of which now sits at about 1,079 feet above sea level. Here are the annual cuts the three states would take at various reservoir levels:

Jan. 1 lake level between 1,090 and 1,045

Nevada: 8,000 acre-feet.

Arizona: 192,000.

At or below 1,045 and above 1,040: Nevada: 10,000.

Arizona: 240,000.

California: 200,000.

At or below 1,040:

Nevada: 10,000.

Arizona: 240,000.

California: starts at 250,000 and increases by 50,000 for every additional 5-foot drop in the lake.

One acre-foot of water will supply two average Las Vegas Valley homes for just over one year.

In addition to protecting the water level in Lake Mead, Entsminger said, the new plan would dramatically increase the amount of water Nevada is allowed to “bank” in the reservoir and free the state to make withdrawals from that bank even when the river is in shortage — something he described as “a major tool in our chest.”

The plan also would trigger the provisions of an earlier deal with Mexico, under which that nation could store more water in Lake Mead while shouldering an equal share of cuts in river water usage.

Nearing the finish line

Meanwhile in the river’s upper basin, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming are closing in on their portion of the contingency plan, which seeks to keep enough water in Lake Powell to protect hydro-power generation at Glen Canyon Dam and allow that reservoir to be used as a bank for conservation savings made upstream.

After Thursday’s vote, Entsminger said he thinks the talks among the upper basin states are “in pretty good shape,” and California seems close to signing on as well.

He declined to speculate on whether Arizona will be able to get the job done.

“Our entire focus right now is getting the agreement across (the( finish line in all seven states,” he said.

If one or more states can’t find a way to sign onto the plan, those that do will have to explore other options, whatever those may be, Entsminger said.

Contact Henry Brean at hbrean@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350. Follow @Refriedbrean on Twitter.