Temporary Colorado River deal isn't cause for celebration

Water officials kick the can down the road rather than confront the growing water crisis

The purportedly landmark Colorado River water supply deal announced last week is hardly cause for celebration.

The three-year agreement between California, Arizona, Nevada and the federal government merely kicks the can down the road rather than directly confronting the growing water crisis.

The problem is simple: Water officials have for a century promised far more water than the Colorado River can provide. Climate change and the recent drought have exacerbated the situation, dropping the level of the river's flows by about one-third in recent years. As a result, the nation's largest reservoirs — Lake Powell and Lake Mead — may not be able to provide water and generate electricity for millions of Southern California, Arizona and Nevada residents.

Yet farmers, cities and irrigation districts continue to demand access to the supply guaranteed by their water rights contracts.

It's against that background that the deal was struck. After years of failed negotiations, the three states agreed to reduce water use by 1 million acre-feet (roughly 14%) annually for three years. In return, the Biden administration agreed to pay $1.2 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act to farmers, cities and Native American tribes for cutting their usage.

The agreement's shortcomings are readily apparent:

• The temporary deal means the states will put off for another three years making a permanent agreement that provides a realistic target of how much the river can deliver to users.

• A 14% reduction in water use isn't remotely enough to protect the health of the river. Should severe drought conditions return, it may not even be enough to keep Lake Mead and Lake Powell from “deadpooling,” or having enough supply to send water downstream.

• California's decision to conserve its share of water from the Colorado River will put additional pressure on Northern California to make up the difference. But the health of the SacramentoSan Joaquin River Delta is also in decline, and water officials have already promised far more water from the Delta than they can provide. This winter's heavy snowpack could help alleviate the problem this year, but Northern California will have drier winters ahead.

• Once the temporary funding from the Inflation Reduction Act runs out, there may be no federal money available for further reductions in water use.

The problem with kicking the can down the road is that eventually you run out of road. This deal does little to change the inevitable.

The problem is simple: Water officials have for a century promised far more water than the Colorado River can provide. Climate change and the recent drought have exacerbated the situation, dropping the level of the river's flows by about onethird in recent years. As a result, the nation's largest reservoirs — Lake Powell and Lake Mead — may not be able to provide water and generate electricity for millions of Southern California, Arizona and Nevada residents.