CWCB Approves Colorado River 7-State Agreement

• Year: 2007
• Title: CWCB Approves Colorado River 7-State Agreement
• CWCB Section: Interstate & Federal
• Description: CWCB Approves Colorado River 7-State Agreement
• Publications - Doc Type: Press Release

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Soard
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
w~aw. cw•cb. state. c o . us
News Release
Feb 1, 2007
For Immediate Release
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
News Contact: Randy Seaholm Harris D. Sherman
[phone] EsecutiveDirectar
COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD RodKnharich
CWCB Director
APPROVES COLORADO RIVER 7-STATE AGREEMENT
Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director
At its January 24, 2007 meeting, the Colorado Water Conservation Board approved a draft 7
Colorado Rivet- Basin States Agreement. The Board also recommended to the Governor that Colorado's
official representatives to the 7 Colorado River Basin States negotiations sign the proposed agreement.
The agreement is specifically designed to comport with the Colorado River Compacts and the
"Law of the River" but seeks to find flexibility within the law to further improve reservoir operations.
The signing of the proposed agreement is a significant event in the overall water operations on the
Colorado River and will remove the threat of litigation between the states over water operations through
2025.
The agreement is the culmination of months of discussions between federal agencies and the
states that share Colorado River water.
Several circumstances combined to lead to this agreement. Due to the recent drought conditions,
the Secretary of the Interior was asked to review current operations of Colorado River reservoirs. As a
result, on June 15, 2005, the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation published a Federal Register notice beginning
the process to develop the Lower Basin shortage criteria and changes to the coordinated reservoir
operations of Lakes Powell and Mead. The deadline for completion of this process is December 31, 2007.
In response to the Bureau's notice, on August 25, 2005 Governor's representatives for the 7
Colorado River Basin States wrote a letter to the Secretary of Interior stating the 7 Colorado River Basin
States had agreed on athree-pronged strategy for improving management and operations of the Colorado
River. First, the states, working with Reclamation, would develop Lower Basin shortage criteria in
conjunction with new coordinated operating criteria for Lakes Powell and Mead under low reservoir
conditions. Second, the states, working with Reclamation, would look for ways to improve system
efficiency and management. Finally, the states would look for ways to augment the water supplies of the
Colorado River.
Representatives for the 7 Colorado River Basin States reached consensus on a draft agreement on
December 18, 2006. The State Representatives are currently in the process of reviewing the proposed
agreement with their respective constituents. Colorado's signing of the agreement is one more step toward
improved river operations that will benefit those who share the waters of the Colorado River.
The CWCB is responsible for preventing floods and helping protect, conserve and develop water
throughout the state. The official meeting notice, the entire agenda and issue memos prepared for the
Board members are posted on the Internet (www.cwcb.state.co.us).
Flood Protection • Water Supply Planning and Finance • Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection • Conservation and Draught Planning