New Water Agreement for Colorado River States

A decade-old desalination plant in San Diego County, California, might help address water shortages in states dependent on the Colorado River. The plant’s excess water capacity could allow San Diego to sell water rights to Arizona and Nevada.

Officials celebrated the agreement at the Carlsbad Desalination Plant in California. Present were Dan Denham of the San Diego County Water Authority, Scott Cameron of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Tom Buschatzke from the Arizona Department of Water Resources, and Colby Pellegrino of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. This plant has created a surplus, enabling San Diego not to draw its full water entitlement from the river.

This initiative marks the first major water trade among states with claims on the Colorado River. It addresses an urgent need due to shortages affecting reservoirs and dams. These provide water for 40 million people and 5.5 million acres of farmland.

“The urgency is real,” stated Scott Cameron, acting director of the Bureau of Reclamation. The agreement opens potential for greater water security in the Southwest.

To finalize, details on water supply, costs, and legal frameworks must be addressed. This involves reviewing historical legal precedents and negotiating terms amidst decreasing water availability.

Dan Denham stressed the importance of quick action, stating, “Hydrology is not going to wait for us.” He suggested that the details should be resolved within a year.