A new Colorado River study highlights the need for conservation while Interior has just rubber-stamped a massive groundwater exploitation project in rural Nevada and similar projects are planned across the dry West.
"Aquifer Storage and Recovery" technology combined with water trading might just be California's best chance of riding out dry times, but water agencies are unwilling to share their data with state regulators and previous boondoggles demand skepticism that ASR and trades are the most effective protections in an era of climate change and drought.
Las Vegas water manager Pat Mulroy predicts that a new report due out on the Colorado River and pending shortages "will be devastating."
With Lake Mead half full at the close of the 2012 water year, science writer John Fleck asks if Lower Basin states squandered their reserve on hookers and blow?
The Colorado River system is over-allocated between seven states, tribes and Mexico. It is 58% full and likely to be drier not wetter in years to come. A case up for review by the Supreme Court may affect all compacts governing interstate water sharing. Potentially at issue: Is state compliance be voluntary?
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