On Tuesday, President Trump signed a plan to reduce the amount of water used from the Colorado River. The Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan aims to maintain water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead by reducing the amount of water used from both reservoirs. In previous years, the water level of both lakes have gradually decreased to the point in which they cannot sustain themselves. Low water levels do not allow for the production of hydroelectric power or the delivery of water. In the image above, the white section along the canyon walls of the Hoover Dam shows how high the water level was just two decades ago.
The plan was supported by all 14 senators from the Colorado River basin states. Mexico has since agreed to help by storing water in Lake Mead. Currently Arizona has the lowest- priority access to the water stored in Lake Mead. Due to the fact that Arizona will be impacted the most from this plan, all states involved signed a separate agreement that would allocate other water sources for infrastructure and farming in Arizona. Federal officials have cited prolonged drought, climate change, and increased demand for the river’s flow as reasons to cut back on water usage. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey celebrated the approval as a “monumental, bipartisan agreement.”
Is this plan the best approach to the current situation? Do you think the plan will be effective in conserving water? How could this bipartisan agreement influence future agreements?
I think the plan they have come up with is the best thing they can do right now. They wouldn't have approved the plan if they thought that it wouldn't be effective, so I'm sure it will do alright.
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