Bulletin Board
Colorado River: California’s 4.4 Plan
March 7, 2000
St. George, Utah Today a panel of western
water experts spoke to the Utah Water Users Association regarding the
current status of the Colorado River Interim Surplus Criteria, or the “4.4
Plan.” The moderator, David Hayes, Deputy Director, Department of
Interior, gave an overview of the current negotiations. The panel
included Patricia Mulroy, General Manager, Southern Nevada Water
Authority; Dennis Underwood, MWD of Southern California; and Wayne Cook,
Upper Colorado River Commission. Larry Anderson, Director, State
Division of Water Resources, introduced the panel and made a closing
statement.
The 1922 Colorado River Compact apportioned the Colorado River among the seven basin states, with 7.5 million acre-feet (maf) going to both the Upper and Lower Basin states. In 1944, under a treaty, Mexico was guaranteed 1.5 maf. The total river allocation amounted to 16.5 maf, but there is a shortfall as the average annual flow amounts to only 14 maf since 1930. Evaporation from reservoirs removes an additional 2 maf annually. Stress on the resource has increased as the fast growing Lower Basin states have fully consumed their allocation of 7.5 maf. Arizona is fully using its 2.2 maf and Nevada is fast approaching its 400,000 acre-foot allotment. California over the years has exceeded its 4.4 maf allotment annually by upwards of 800,000 acre-feet. As a result, there has been growing pressure on California to reduce its use back to 4.4 maf.
In 1997, Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbit, forced the issue; thus the “4.4 Plan.” At the 1999 Colorado River Water Users meeting held in Las Vegas, Babbit indicated that he wanted this matter resolved before the end of his term as Secretary. The 4.4 Plan would allow California to use surplus water for a 15-year period in order to make the changes necessary to reach the 4.4 maf.
In his opening remarks, David Hayes described the Interim Surplus
Criteria by stating that California would have to move water around and
rearrange contracts if it is to reduce its usage to the 4.4 maf. He
said that 3.8 maf of California’s allocation goes to agriculture and that
it would be necessary to conserve agriculture water and transfer it to Los
Angles. He noted, “California cannot do it now
it will take ten to fifteen years.” Hayes believes that
there is enough water in the Colorado River to allow California to move
towards meeting its 4.4 allocation. “If there is an agreement,” he
said, “It [the agreement] is a club to make California meet the 4.4
goal.” One solution to making up water during drought periods is
off-site banking of water that would be made available to Nevada and
California during those periods of need. Hayes touched on the
success of the endangered species recovery programs in the Upper Basin and
said that he was willing to request Congress to join with Utah in funding
the effort.
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Dennis Underwood, representing MWD, looking as if he was out
numbered, acknowledged that California must
reduce its usage by 800,000 acre-feet. He believes that there is a
fifteen-year window in which to accomplish this. He said that it has
been a difficult task because it is necessary to divide the water
differently, taking 500,000 acre-feet from agriculture to municipal use
for the coastal plains. There is still 300,000 acre-feet to find.
“Conservation will be necessary as well,” he said, “[California] needs
water during the time that these changes are made.” He noted that
there must be quantification agreements, interagency agreements, federal
approval agreements and state agreements all
taking time. Notwithstanding, he averred his belief that the effort will
be successful. As he walked away from the podium, he returned for
his glass of water, he smiled, and there was laughter from the audience,
as the jesture was a metaphor for California’s need for water, even if it
was only a glass full.
Wayne Cook noted that Lake Powell and Lake Mead work together. The operating criteria in good years is to release water from Lake Powell to Lake Mead to keep them equal. 602-a requires that there be enough water in Lake Powell to maintain the present level of use during a dry cycle. He stated that between 2000 - 2015 Lake Powell would be drawn down 65 feet without surplus criteria. The proposed interim plan will draw it down 10 percent. If a dry cycle occurs, Powell could be drawn down 125 -140 feet and by imposing the interim criteria, another 20 feet. He said, “If Lake Mead is released to the Lower Basin, there will not be an impact on power generation from Lake Powell.” He continued, “If there is a wet cycle there would be no impact on Lake Powell. However, if there is a dry cycle, 602 kicks in and there is no longer the requirement to keep Powell and Mead equal.” Cook concluded by saying “ We must keep the discussions going and get the job done so the feds don’t interfere and to avoid political pressure. Sometimes California disappears, but we need to get the job done.”
Larry Anderson provided a word of optimism that the parties will come to agreement. But nevertheless, he is asked by others about the impacts to the Upper Basin states, and why the Upper Basin states are helping California. “It’s to our best interest to help California get down to 4.4 maf as soon as possible,” concluded Anderson.
Links: Desert Anomaly: www.slcclassic.com/utilities/news1999/news122399.htm
The Colorado River: www.slcclassic.com/utilities/news1999/news082799.htm