Boulder City, Nev. -- The Bureau of Reclamation and stakeholders throughout the Colorado River Basin (Basin) released a report today that documents opportunities and potential actions to address the future water supply and demand imbalances projected in the 2012 Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study.
The Moving Forward Phase 1 Report is part of the Colorado River Basin Study Moving Forward effort launched in May of 2013. The Moving Forward program is an effort by the Department of the Interior (DOI) and stakeholders throughout the Basin to respond in a coordinated and collaborative manner in identifying and implementing actions that address projected water supply and demand imbalances, have broad-based support, and provide a wide range of benefits.
In Moving Forward Phase 1, funded jointly by Reclamation and the seven Colorado River Basin States, over 100 stakeholders spanning all water use sectors engaged in three workgroups focused on water use efficiency (urban and agricultural) and environmental and recreational flows. The Phase 1 Report includes chapters contributed by each workgroup.
"The impacts of the ongoing drought are widespread and are currently being addressed at the local and regional levels. Looking ahead to the longer-term challenges facing the Basin documented in the 2012 Study, it is clear that these challenges must be tackled collaboratively involving all sectors of use," Lower Colorado Regional Director Terry Fulp said. "The Phase 1 Report is a critical first step towards this level of collaboration."
Twenty-five opportunities were identified by the workgroups. Similar components resulting from each workgroup's individual set of findings include opportunities related to funding and incentives, data and tools, outreach and partnerships, coordination and integration, infrastructure improvements, and flexible water management.
Building from the Phase 1 Report, Phase 2 of the Moving Forward effort will be underway later this year and includes the selection and implementation of several pilot projects.
The Moving Forward Phase 1 Report is publicly available at
http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/programs/crbstudy/MovingForward/index.html. Comments are encouraged on the report during the next 90 days and will be summarized and posted to the website for consideration in Phase 2.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
