Press Release- April 30, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007
Contact:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370
GOV. RITTER 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 current 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."
In order to become effective, the seven states¿ proposal for managing the Colorado River must be adopted by the United States Secretary of Interior. The Secretary is currently reviewing the states' proposal and a final decision is expected in December. "The Secretary is the 'water master' for the lower Colorado River Basin, and has the final decision whether or not to accept the states' recommendations," said Jim Lochhead, a Glenwood Springs water attorney representing a group of Colorado water users. "However, I think the Secretary must give strong consideration to a proposal that has the backing of all seven Colorado River basin states."
Rod Kuharich, director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the second Gov. Ritter representative to the seven states negotiations, agreed. "Having the seven basin states come together and agree upon a system for managing the Colorado River is a historic accomplishment," Kuharich said. "This agreement may be the most significant achievement in Colorado River negotiations since the Colorado River Compact of 1922."