Water deal will pay off big for Ariz.
Arizona’s future is closely tied to its water supply — and that makes an updated water accord between the United States and Mexico critically important for our state. A water-sharing deal finalized Wednesday improves a previous agreement that expires at the end of the year. It also represents the continuation of decades of cooperation on water management
Without this accord, called Minute 323, there would be less certainty about water planning in Arizona, which is ongoing and essential in this desert state.
Minute 323 is built on a shared goal of boosting the reservoir levels in Lake Mead to prevent shortages.
Mexico will continue its pledge to take reductions in its allotment of Colorado River water if a water shortage is declared on the river — that’s something U.S. states are required to do, with Arizona and Nevada first in line to lose water.
But there is much more here than just preserving an existing promise along with existing conservation and environmental programs that were due to expire without this accord.
Minute 323 now provides a powerful incentive for Arizona, California and Nevada to finish a much-needed Drought Contingency Plan for the region.
It establishes a Binational Water Scarcity Contingency Plan, in which Mexico agrees to join U.S. states in temporarily taking less water from Lake Mead to prevent the declaration of a shortage. This should make it easier for Arizona, California and Nevada to finalize their own Drought Contingency Plan.
Why?
Because that commitment from Mexico to help keep water in the reservoir does not take effect unless these states finish their plan, says Chuck Cullom, Colorado River Programs Manager for Central Arizona Project.
Negotiations on Minute 323 began in 2015, and Mexico deserves credit for continuing that process in goodwill despite the derogatory rhetoric directed southward by the current administration.
What’s at stake is bigger and more enduring than political posturing. Mexico gets that — as do the stakeholders on this side of the line who worked to make this happen.
The law of the Colorado River puts Arizona at particular risk.
Lake Mead has been hovering disturbingly close to the low-water mark that would trigger a declaration of a shortage by the Interior Department. Arizona and Nevada would suffer cutbacks in Colorado River water allotments first if that happens.
If Arizona’s allotment were cut, the national news would be devastating to our state’s image — even if local water planners were able to mitigate the immediate impact.
As a desert state, Arizona has to guard against the perception that we lack adequate water to sustain continued growth. Years of careful planning so far have prevented growth-threatening shortages.
The ongoing drought, climate change and the reality that the Colorado River is overallocated make creativity, cooperation and conservation key elements in managing water supplies and staving off a shortage.
Mexico has to be part of that planning. Since 1944, the United States has had a treaty with Mexico regarding the Colorado River and the Rio Grande. Mexico has rights to Colorado River water and its participation in long-range water planning is essential.
Minute 323 is an “implementation agent” to that treaty, which reflects a spirit of cooperation, not conflict, in managing the river.
“Water agencies and users have already been investing in projects to leave water in Lake Mead, which is one of the reasons the lake levels have stayed above that critical 1,075 (feet of elevation) point” that triggers a declaration of a shortage, says Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute.
With Minute 323, Mexico becomes an even more active partner in averting a shortage.
Negotiated by representatives of both United States and Mexico, as well participation from U.S. states, this accord furthers cooperation and long-term planning to prevent the need for crisis management.
That’s exactly what Arizona needs to secure its water future.