Several agreements with multiple water agencies are set to conserve up to 643,000-acre feet of water in Lake Mead. Among these agreements are those made with the Coachella Valley Water District and the Quechan Indian Tribe.
Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton emphasized the significance of these collaborations. "These agreements represent another critical step in our collective efforts to address the water management challenges the Colorado River Basin faces due to drought and climate change. Addressing the drought crisis requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, and close collaboration among federal, state, Tribal and local communities. When we work together, we can find solutions to meet the challenges of these unprecedented drought conditions," said Touton.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland also acknowledged the importance of these partnerships in achieving President Biden's Investing in America agenda. "Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Interior Department is working collaboratively with states, Tribes, farmers, and water districts across the West to help address, improve and protect the long-term stability of the Colorado River System. The Biden-Harris administration is using every tool and resource at our disposal to continue our sustained, collaborative progress in increasing water conservation across the West," said Haaland.
According to a press release on December 4th agreement between The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) and the Department of Interior includes $77.6 million from Investing in America agenda. Reclamation and IID are currently working on an agreement for 2024-2026 that could potentially conserve up to 800,000 acre-feet of water for the Colorado River System while maintaining lake levels at Lake Mead.
In addition to this initiative, eighteen other agreements were signed and executed in Arizona with a goal to conserve up to 348,000 acre feet of water in 2023 alone. These agreements aim for a conservation target of up to 984,429 acre feet from 2024-2026.
Reiterating the importance of these collective efforts, Touton stated, "These agreements represent another critical step in our collective efforts to address the water management challenges the Colorado River Basin faces due to drought and climate change. Addressing the drought crisis requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, and close collaboration among federal, state, Tribal and local communities. When we work together, we can find solutions to meet the challenges of these unprecedented drought conditions."
