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c a '•�. °'s �. �r��''fi .�.» �n�s- "S�.s„''. � x Ye..,.r . ��c —xi r „s.�,.� � ..�.F- - .s.,.r.� -s <br />z <br />lip <br />rfw <br />1 i <br />Predicting the weather has never been Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and tion Settlement Agreement). But there <br />an exact science but one thing is for Wyoming split their shares of the have never been any shortage criteria <br />certain: the Colorado River Basin is dry, Colorado River based on percentages so formally developed by the states or the <br />in fact, very dry. A four -year dry spell in if there is a drought, those percentages U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau). <br />the Colorado River Basin has caused will divide whatever water is available. "We had some shortage criteria <br />raging wildfires and million of dollars in However, the Lower Basin's water supply discussions back during the 1988 <br />damage. And to make matters worse, the division is anything but a "share the through 1992 drought," said Jayne <br />two big water supply assurances against pain" principle. Harkins, Area Manager for the Bureau's <br />drought — Lake Mead and Lake Powell — Instead, Lower Basin states' water Lower Colorado Region. Harkins said <br />are both hurting. use is based on a priority system, with before any firm shortage guidelines <br />Lake Mead is currently at the 1,145- California holding the top priority, and were developed, the focus became the <br />foot elevation mark — its lowest level technically, Arizonas Central Arizona surplus guidelines as a series of extremely <br />since 1969 and about 60 percent of its Project (CAP) last in line. The 1968 wet years hit the basin in the mid to <br />capacity. Upstream at Lake Powell, the Colorado River Basin Project Act, late `90s. <br />picture is worse — the reservoir stands at authorized the CAP, but the legislation "Now as the reservoirs continue to <br />about 50 percent capacity. Though also placed Californias annual right to drop once again, we need to be thinking <br />runoff into Lake Powell is predicted to 4.4. million acre -feet above diversions about the next step," Harkins said. <br />be 56 percent for 2003, low runoff from for Phoenix, Tucson, and possibly Las Recently, the Bureau has been holding a <br />the past four years (including only 29 Vegas, during shortage conditions. series of workshops entitled "Era of <br />percent last year) gives the indication When to call a shortage (or a surplus) Limited Water" and has received some <br />of an extended, and possibly disasterous, for the Lower Basin states is the power feedback from the meetings requesting <br />drought in the making. of the Secretary of the Interior as "water that shortage criteria be developed. But <br />Population centers and farmland master" under the 1964 U.S. Supreme most concur, developing shortage <br />throughout the West that rely on the Court Decree in Arizona v. California. criteria will not be an easy task. <br />Colorado River may be surprised to In 2001, the Secretary used her power "I think when we begin discussing <br />learn that there is no formal drought to approve the Interim Surplus Guide- this in earnest, there are going to be <br />contingency plan in place for dealing lines for the delivery of surplus waters some contentious discussions, just as <br />with water shortages among the Lower to California and Nevada (though on there were when we developed the <br />Basin states of California, Arizona and hold while southern California interests Interim Surplus Guidelines," said Gerald <br />Nevada. The Upper Basin states of continue to haggle over the Quantifica- Zimmerman, executive director of the <br />10 • COLORADO RIVER PROJECT • RIVER REPORT • SUMMER 2003 <br />