Basin States' Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Statement, CO River Interim guidelines for Lower Basin Shrotages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007 CONTACT: Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370 BITTER ANNOUNCES SIGNING OF HISTORIC COLORADO RIVER PACT Multi-state agreement will help reduce risk of shortages and protect Colorado interests Gov. Bill Ritter today announced the signing of a historic agreement among Western states governing future management of the Colorado River. The agreement decreases the threat of water shortages in Colorado, provides additional flexibility in Hoover and Glen Canyon dam operations, and encourages water conservation and the development of new water sources. ``There is a need for new solutions to address the West's increasing demand for water," Gov. Ritter said. "The agreement is one such solution. In this era of increased demand and diminished supply, it is more necessary than ever that the Western states work together to resolve our resource issues. It is my belief that this agreement is just the first step in a new era of Western state cooperation." The agreement was signed April 23 in Las Vegas by representatives of the Colorado River basin states of Colorado, Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The agreement proposes reducing deliveries of Colorado River water to Arizona and Nevada when storage in Lake Mead drops below certain set levels, thus reducing the risk of shortages in Colorado. The agreement would reduce the risk of shortages in the lower Colorado River by coordinating Hoover and Glen Canyon dam operations. The agreement also proposes a system for storing in Lake Mead water saved through conservation efforts or the development of new water sources. In addition to resolving cui~-ent Colorado River disputes, the agreement reduces the likelihood of future litigation among the seven Colorado River basin states by encouraging cooperation and consultation between the states. "Litigation pitting state against state over the Colorado River would cost taxpayers millions, and the likely result would not please anyone," said Colorado Attorney General John Suthers. "Thanks to the hard work of the parties involved, we can now work with -not against -other states to resolve our water disputes." "The agreement cuts through a lot of the red tape that had discouraged California, Arizona and Nevada from developing new sources of water," said Scott Balcomb, a Glenwood Springs water attorney and one of two of Gov. Ritter's representatives who helped negotiate the agreement. "By encouraging the Lower Colorado River states to develop their own new sources of water, we have reduced the likelihood that those states will come looking to Colorado to meet their needs."