Each profile features information and data visualizations that Arizonans can use to better understand and impact their communities. Every water user in all sectors within each state must be a part of the solution by contributing to the protection of this shared river system. A statement from ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke and CAP General Manager Ted Cooke in response to the U.S. Department of the Interior announcement of actions to protect the Colorado River system and 2023 Operating Conditions for Lake Powell and Lake Mead is available HERE. This water is about 30% of the water that flows though the CAP canals and represents about 18% of Arizonas Colorado River supply. Here are our top priorities for Arizonas 2023 Legislative Session: 1)Pass legislation that provides communities in rural Arizona (places located outside of Active Management Areas) with the ability to plan, manage, and protect their groundwater resources in a locally-adaptable approach. Confirm Logout The region has suffered from a long-term drought, and Lake Mead water levels have declined significantly over the past two decades. Farmers across Arizona are expected to be hit the hardest as agriculture uses the majority of the state's river water allocation at an estimated 527,000 acre-feet per year. In September 2020, the Colorado River Annual Operating Plan for 2021 was presented by the Bureau of Reclamation. There is a 22% chance that There is no anticipated water supply issues for cities or tribal communities. Extreme swings in weather are expected as part of a changing climate, something Brad Udall, a water and climate research scientist at Colorado State University, has called "weather whiplash." That includes the nearly 4 million tallied by the Water Bank. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. WebThe AMWUA cities have committed resources to support this plan that includes sending water to Central Arizona farms. Water is not measured in gallons at such a large level, it is instead measured in acre-feet. Even after investing billions in treatment plants and infrastructure to utilize Colorado River water, the ten AMWUA cities have been preparing for years to receive less water from the River. Each has a specified amount of water that they are entitled to use every year. Reclamation says more cuts are needed. In comparison, here are the prescribed cutbacks in a Tier 2a Shortage: Why is more than a Tier 2a Shortage needed? Phoenix and other cities haveconsidered pumping more groundwateras climate changes effects continue to strain rivers. If a plant is built in Mexico, states who invest in it could take part of Mexicos share of the river in return. For alternative water sources, there has been discussions of pumping floodwaters from the Mississippi River basin to either Colorados Front Range or to New Mexicos Rio Grande. To think, I have this beautiful home and Im not going to be able to live here because water is not going to be approved and provided to my home is just incredibly unnerving and stressful, Deangelis said. But to build such a pipe would cost USD$8.6 billion, and potentially raise water prices from less than $200 for an acre-foot to $1,700. Lake Mead is the reservoir that supplies Arizonas water from the Colorado River. Participants in the program include large and small cities on the Colorado River, irrigation districts, tribal nations and even private businesses, like Resolution Copper Mining. Slight chance of a rain shower. The Colorado System Storage is down 10% from last year. Explaining Arizona waterthe issues, policies, management strategies, drought, conservation, and stewardship. Water levels on Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the US, is currently experiencing historic low-water levels, caused by the ongoing 20-year-long megadrought in the US West, as well as reduced snowpack in the Rocky Mountains where it usually provides a steady supply of water as it melts. 5th or more: Written notice and $500 charge to next water bill. FILE - In this July 16, 2014 file photo, what was once a marina sits high and dry due to Lake Mead receding in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Arizona. Local, national, and international media have been covering the poor health of the Colorado River system for some time, with the FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) A Native American tribe that has one of the largest and most secure rights to Colorado River water now has approval to lease some of it in Arizona, a state thats been hardest hit by cuts to its water supply and is on a perpetual search for more. That's the amount of water it takes to cover one acre of land at one foot deep. Legislative Update April 2019 and Association Health Plans, Queen Creek Economic Development Bus Tour, REALTOR Day at the Capitol 2020: What to Look for this Legislative Session. I think people would be much more upset if they went to turn on the tap and nothing came out, Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers said. Over the same period, the state has recorded 6.2 more days that are above 110F (43C), which translates to significantly more danger days where residents are more likely to succumb to heat-related health issues and deaths. This figure shows Lake Powell's predicted water levels through 2026. Arizona has agreed to cut 720,000 acre-feet per year (AFY), appreciated. Explaining Arizona waterthe issues, policies, management strategies, drought, conservation, and stewardship. Between the cuts already in place and dire predictions for the future, the Water Bank is preparing itself to make withdrawals on its longtime savings plan. The state Department of Water Resources likewise requires storage facilities to monitor water levels and water quality. Colorado River Annual Operating Plan for 2021, Joint Colorado River Shortage Preparedness Briefing. According to the. As of May 2022, Lake Mead water levels are at 1,049 feet and declining. WHAT IS A TIER 1 SHORTAGE ON THE COLORADO RIVER? "The latest outlook for Lake Powell is troubling," Wayne Pullan, the bureau's Upper Colorado Regional director said. In Arizona, the current drought is approaching 15 years in length and has surpassed the worst drought in more than110 years of official recordkeeping. The agency did not respond to CNNs request for comment. It certainly is. But Arizona was hit hardest by the declaration with nearly one fifth of the states water supply being cut off. The Arizona water shortage 2021 is just the beginning of an ongoing crisis in the region, as climate change-induced droughts and heatwaves have driven water levels at Lake Mead and the Colorado River to plummet. AMWUA (Arizona Municipal Water Users Association), 3003 N. Central Ave., Suite 1550, Phoenix, AZ 85012, 2023 Arizona Municipal Water Users Association. A dry irrigation canal that runs through land farmed by Tempe Farming Company, in Casa Grande, Arizona. Our readers include residents, business owners, water wonks, elected officials, and journalistspretty much anyone who cares about water. We are basically just an entity that stores water. We promise, no spam! A 2019 Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) triggers automatic cuts for different tiers. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Both communities say these water rights are key to their sustainability. In 2020 and 2021 Arizona has operated at the Tier Zero Colorado River status meaning we do not take 192,000-acre feet of our allocated 2.8-million-acre feet annual Lake Mead entitlement. We anticipate a Tier 1 Colorado River Shortage in 2022 will be declared next week with the release of the United States Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)s August 24-Month study. The Colorado River and its tributariesprovide water for some 40 million people from Wyoming to the U.S.-Mexico border. The AWBAs nest egg of 3.75 million acre-feet of water is the equivalent of 1.3 times the states annual allocation of 2.8 million acre-feet of Colorado River water. In 2019 the Arizona State Legislature passed, the Governor signed and the United States Department of Interior approved the DCP, the Drought Contingency Plan. Now, we continue to wait and see if the States can devise such a plan. But experts predict that water levels in Lake Mead will not likely recover soon amid current global warming projections and aridity. Others notably the supplies provided by the Colorado River not so good. In his, , Governor Doug Ducey plans to provide the Arizona Water Authority with. In my opinion, look somewhere else we need to be able to sustain ourselves.. This could potentially move 600,000 acre-feet of water, offsetting the projected loss from the Colorado River. This decline in Lake Mead will trigger a Tier 1 Shortage declaration, and therefore, less water will be delivered from the Colorado River. Municipal water users are currently spared from the shortage but this could quickly change as water levels will likely continue to plummet in the next few years. Of our But Irwin argues if this one water transfer is allowed, it will open the door to many other large investment firms buying up the land and water rights in her community. Officials didnt want to give up the precious resource and were concerned that California could move to claim the unused portion in federal court. The scarcity of water in the state is pitting small towns against fast-growing metropolitan communities. According to the Water Banks annual report, a Tier 3 status, which could be less than two years away, would trigger the maximum release of 120,000 acre-feet per year, split among tribes, municipalities and industrial users. Now Arizona is experiencing that junior status. But, as ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke said, Because of the serious nature of the drought were in and where were heading (its important) that people realize there are solutions out there and solutions already in place and on the horizon.. President Joe Biden has approved three bills that will improve access to water for three tribes in Arizona amid an unrelenting drought. Are you unfamiliar with Arizonas water system? Its clear the state needs to do more beyond the water restriction from the declaration. If the current anticipated Tier 1 cuts occur in 2022, Arizona will further reduce its water use from the river to 512,000-acre feet. Arizonans are now restricted on how much water they could use and the situation will not likely abate anytime soon. The AMWUA cities have committed resources to support this plan that includes sending water to Central Arizona farms. President Joe Biden has approved three bills that will improve access to water for three tribes in Arizona amid an unrelenting drought. A shortage likely wouldnt have direct impacts for Valley cities until a more extreme shortage, when Lake Mead hits 1,045 feet and partially cuts water supplies that some cities rely on. One major challenge to recovery, she said, is where the water storage facilities are located in relation to the cities looking to extract their water. Flores said the tribe will work with its farm managers and talk to the community to determine the amount of water that can be leased, the price for the water and the length of the leases. (AP Photo/John Locher, File), Phoenix Fire responds to another school after students allegedly took edibles, Some 300 campers stranded at an Arizona park due to flooding, Wednesday morning Arizona forecast 1-18-23, a whole-of-government approach to drought mitigation, Feds declare water shortage for Colorado River, cut allotment to Arizona. Arizona also needs to rapidly invest and diversify its water sources. Mandatory shortages are affecting some states, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has called for more widespread cuts as key reservoirs shrink. This Tier 1 Shortage declaration will not come as a surprise. The tribe now can divert 3,414 acre-feet of water per year from the Colorado River. Based on the Jan. 1 projected level of Lake Mead at 1,065.85 feet above sea to either Colorados Front Range or to New Mexicos Rio Grande. Global Historical Climatology Network site. To print or save this week's blog, a PDF version is available HERE. The latest Morning Scoop panel discussion focused on a broad overview of the water issues facing Arizona. A Warner Bros. They also cite the costs that come with repairs toaging infrastructure in older parts of town and installing new infrastructure in younger parts of town where growth has exploded. Water is a human right and Wall Street shouldnt be allowed to use this vital resource to make profits at the expense of hardworking Americans, Warren said in a statement. But OConnell said officials will aim to spread the supply for a significantly longer period of time. The seven Basin States Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming were tasked with developing a plan within 60 days to accomplish this drastic reduction for a River currently producing less than 13 million acre-feet of water. Not only is Lake Powell's water level plummeting because of drought, its total capacity is shrinking, too, We are what I call the sacrificial lamb for the bigger areas, Irwin told CNN. Under the current framework for managing the River, the August 24-Month Study determines what level of shortage the River will be in based on the projected levels of Lake Mead for January of the following year. The only way to address these challenges & #ClimateChange is to utilize the best available science and to work cooperatively across the landscapes & communities that rely on it"1/3 pic.twitter.com/bjbgvcMNsr, RELATED: Feds declare water shortage for Colorado River, cut allotment to Arizona. If a Tier 3 shortage occurs, Arizona would have to give up 720,000 acre-feet of its apportionment, which would restrict water usage in municipalities. News accounts have been full of bad news about Lake Mead, Lake Powell and the system overall. But as the climate crisis continues to intensify, Arizona has been embattled with a myriad of issues, chief among them being the increasing threat of water shortage and scarcity. Lake Powell upstream on the Colorado River is similarly experiencing water, dropping to its lowest level since it was filled in the 1960s, These record lows prompted the first-ever, for the reservoirs, which has been in effect since early 2022, requiring water users including states like Nevada as well as Mexico to conserve and reduce their water consumption. Cole Lauterbach, The Center Square. Water, as described at the start of a panel discussion Tuesday on Arizonas water supplies, is one of the hottest topics around.. Despite the speed at which the River has declined and with the real possibility of having significantly less water next year, the ten AMWUA cities are up to the task of meeting the water demands of their communities. While unchanged water usage rates can mostly be attributed to the economys transition from one that is based largely on agriculture to urban, decades of conservation efforts including the Arizona Groundwater Management Act of 1980 and year-long mandatory water conservation measures have certainly helped. You can read the DCP on how Arizona will share resources between stakeholders and mitigate future risks at www.weservgad.org. Meredith Deangelis lives in the community, and the thought of losing access to water keeps her up at night. Water buffalos the experts, wonks and gadflies of the water worldin Valley city halls say the impending shortage isnt solely to blame for the increases. Of our Colorado River water, about 1.5 maf moves through a Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal into the metro areas of Phoenix and Tucson. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much (ADWR), 41% of the states current water supply comes from groundwater, 36% from Colorado River, 18% from in-state rivers, and 5% from reclaimed water. Neither do we. Once you have your water rights, you defend it, Ferris said. Support OregonLive. Instead of potentially ceding those flows to California, the state opened a kind of liquid piggy bank, storing away a share of its water for an uncertain future. Reclamation and state leaders must pursue a more long-term sustainable approach to managing the Colorado River rather than trying to make marginal cuts that barely help avert shortage from year to year. Now it seems, Arizona water Each level of shortage is known as a tier and goes into effect when the water in Lake Mead drops to specific elevations. The rules governing how water is distributed from the Colorado River focus on Lake Mead water levels. Where rates are increasing, it generally comes out to a few dollars per month for the average homeowner. For over 50years, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has worked to protect our member cities' ability to provide their communities with assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies. On November 8, 2022, residents in two southeastern Arizona groundwater basins voted on whether to put limits on groundwater use. In general,housing and development use less water than agriculture. As of May 2022, Lake Mead water levels are. State lawmakers passed a measure last year to allow local municipalities to use their own infrastructure to pump groundwater, a process known as independent recovery, to deliver to their customers. WebEach city is prepared for Tier 2 and even Tier 3 shortages because they have invested in diverse and reliable water portfolios, funded infrastructure and technology, stored water One of the provisions was a plan by the lower basin states and Mexico to share in water cutbacks, if needed, between 2020 and 2026. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. But while the state has long focused on squirreling away its excess water supply, it did not turn its attention to the question of extraction until nearly a decade ago. Published It also has rights to nearly 57,000 acre-feet of water in California. Tribes often trade potentially huge water claims for the promise of federal funding to deliver water to their citizens. For more water information, visitwww.amwua.org. The federal Bureau of Reclamation will make the final decision on whether to approve the water transfer. In Arizona amid a decades-long megadrought some communities are facing the very real possibility of losing access to the precious water that remains. Like much of the West the Colorado River is facing unprecedented & accelerating challenges. The feds areexpected to make the shortage declaration in August. To bank the unused water, the state Water Bank relies on two different processes: actually keeping water in underground storage and an exchange program known as groundwater savings. For more water information, visitwww.amwua.org. Tier 1 shortage. As the Valley has grown, family farms have transformed into strip malls and apartment buildings. After 25 years, its savings balance stored underground in facilities across the state has grown to 3.75 million acre-feet. It is also where the all-important Hoover Dam is located bordering with Nevada where it helps control floods, provide irrigation water as well as generate hydroelectric power. Water, as described at the start of a panel discussion Tuesday on Arizonas water supplies, is one of the hottest topics around. Arizona has been in a Tier 1 shortage condition Lake Mead. WebThe Colorado River Basin continues to experience drought and the impacts of hotter and drier conditions. Beyond that, there needs to be an overhaul of sustainable farming practices in the industry as well the state is the leading producers of cotton, lettuce and hay with cattle and dairy being the top agricultural products. Supplemental water deliveries to Lake Powell began in July 2021 under emergency provisions of the 2019 Drought Response Operation Agreement. A Tier 1 shortage does mean that municipal water providers will continue to do what they have done for decades. Indeed, if the reservoir drops below 895 feet, it is considered a dead pool condition, which will jeopardise the Hoover Dams ability to provide electricity leaving nearly 1.3 million people in Arizona, California, and Nevada without power. As drought pushes east, more intense wildfires are sparking in new areas. These reports cover all 15 of Arizonas counties as well as urban areas and demographic subgroups. You might also like: Lake Mead and Colorado River Basin Water Shortage: Causes, Effects, and Policy Solutions. The DCP formalized that practice, requiring that Arizona leave specified volumes of water in So what does this mean for the people of Arizona? Thats because last summer, for the first time ever, drought conditions forced the federal government to declare a tier 1 water shortage in the Colorado River, reducing how much Arizona can use. A power pool is two or more interconnected electrical systems that operate a single system to generate power, according to the Bureau of Reclamation glossary. Protecting & enhancing Arizonas water supplies for current and future generations. Were working on phasing into the other responsibilities that we have, of actually making that water available to others when shortages hit us.. The states Water Bank operates by exchanging Colorado River water for long-term credits, which may then be used to access stored water in the future. For years, officials have doled out more water than actually flows down the Colorado River, making it chronically overallocated. As the climate crisis continues unchecked, so, too, will the water wars in the nations driest states. Current increases in metro Phoenix break down like this: City leaders wont have to worry about losing their Colorado River water next year, but more extreme shortages could hit closer to home. Arizonas population growth and extreme drought have increased demand for water in limited supply. The minimum power pool was designed to protect the framework of the Glen Canyon Dam. Indeed, if the reservoir drops below 895 feet, it is considered a dead pool condition, which will jeopardise the Hoover Dams ability to provide electricity leaving nearly, in Arizona, California, and Nevada without power. While the AWBA operates the water banking system, it doesnt actually own any facilities. The immediate challenge is the unpredictability of what additional reductions beyond a Tier 2a Shortage will be placed on water providers for 2023. Exceptional Drought: Lake Powell then and now, family revisits 2014 houseboat trip, Dry farmland and a defunct resort; the repercussions of Lake Mead's water shortage. Arizona REALTORS The tribe secured water rights to a Colorado River tributary in 2014 through another federal water rights settlement. Each city is prepared for Tier 2 and even Tier 3 shortages because they have invested in diverse and reliable water portfolios, funded infrastructure and technology, stored water underground, instilled a conservation ethic, and have drought and shortage preparedness plans. The Likelihood of a Water Shortage from the Colorado River is measured by the Bureau of Reclamation, based on annual projections of water levels in Lake Mead. For many years, Arizona water professionals have been anticipating and preparing for this shortage. Temperatures in Arizona have been steadily rising with average summer temperatures now 1.8F (1C) higher compared to 1970 levels. New predictions for Lake Mead highlight the need for additional actions on top of the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan, said Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department Water Resources. My main concern with all of this is the precedent that is setting, that is whats so scary, Irwin told CNN. Hand-picked stories once a fortnight. Cities wont directly lose Colorado River water in the upcoming shortage, but they will pay more for it. Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts and Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, recently introduced a bill aimed at preventing large corporations from profiting off water rights. The latest Morning Scoop panel discussion sponsored by the Arizona Capitol Times focused on a broad overview of the water issues facing Arizona. A water shortage was declared for the first time on the river last year. As water levels in Lake Mead continue to drop, a multistate drought contingency agreement signed in 2019 would subject Arizona to further reductions in its Colorado River water (E&E News PM, June 2).