Experts available to discuss federal plan for the Colorado River

Today, the federal government approved a 10-year Decision Framework for Colorado River water allocations to the seven basin states, which includes more than 40 million people who rely on it for drinking water, agricultural irrigation, power generation, wildlife habitat and more. 

The plan reduces Arizona's allocation by 760,000 acre-feet, California's by 440,000 acre-feet and Nevada’s by 50,000 acre-feet, totaling 1.25 million acre-feet over two years. It also allows for additional, voluntary cuts by these lower basin states. This decision comes after years of stalemate between river water stakeholders.

The Decision Framework does not specify cuts beyond these first two years but rather provides guidelines for reestablishing a plan for the river every two years based on ongoing negotiations.

Read the announcement by the Department of the Interior.

University of Arizona experts are available to speak regarding the final plans.

Andrea Gerlak, director of the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, studies the causes of – and innovative solutions to – some of our world’s most pressing environmental challenges. She can speak to water policy, resource management and Colorado River governance.
Email: agerlak@arizona.edu

Karl Flessa, professor emeritus of geosciences, has been studying the Colorado River Delta since 1992. He co-leads the binational science team of the International Boundary and Water Commission responsible for monitoring the effects of environmental flows to the Colorado River Delta. He is a founding member of the Colorado River Research Group.
Email: kflessa@arizona.edu

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Media contact:
Mikayla Mace Kelley
University Communications
520-621-1878
mikaylamace@arizona.edu

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