The Interior Department has proposed three alternatives for conserving the Colorado River.
Supplies have been limited due to the ongoing drought and the Colorado River Basin states have been given multiple chances to come up with an agreement on how to make water cuts, but have not.
The Bureau of Reclamation has recommended either the standard no action alternative, another one based on water rights seniority or one that would have the states deal with future shortages evenly. The Department says they are not leaning towards an option at this time, but the final impact statement will have a clear decision. The comment deadline on the draft is May 30th.
The House Committee on Natural Resources is also focused on water shortage challenges.
The Committee hosted a field hearing and site visits to examine California’s continued water shortage issues. Representative John Duarte was in attendance and shared this photo on Twitter of the event in front of the Friant Dam in Fresno.
He says, “Droughts are an act of God. Water shortages are the result of bad policy.” He goes on to say he working closely with his colleagues on legislation that would increase storage capacity for the state and provide regulatory clarity for our farmers.
