New Drought Contingencies Triggered for Upper Colorado River States

Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming will launch a new drought response operations plan as water levels in Lake Powell continue to drop, according to a press release by the Upper Colorado River Commission.

According to terms established by the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's May 24-Month Study signals the new for the new drought response plan to keep water levels in Lake Powell from dropping below 3,525 feet. Lake Powell is currently at an elevation of 3,560.6 feet and is approaching its lowest level since the reservoir began filling in the early 1960s.

A new drought response operation plan "would first consider the operational flexibilities at Lake Powell, consistent with existing legal and operational constraints," according to the press release.

If those flexibilities are unable to prevent Lake Powell elevations from falling below 3,525 feet, the parties will consider releases of water to Lake Powell from the upstream reservoirs of Flaming Gorge, Blue Mesa, and Navajo (“Initial Units” under the Colorado River Storage Project Act).  Releases could be made from some or all of the Initial Units and would likely occur in varying quantities and times but consistent with current legal and operational requirements at the facilities.  A plan would also include the recovery of water at the participating Initial Units to restore operating elevations at those facilities to their pre-plan levels.

The "megadrought" gripping the U.S. Southwest and the Colorado River watershed is only expected to get worse. The Drought Contingency Plan was first triggered for Upper Colorado states in January, when that month's 24-Month Study triggered enhanced monitoring and coordination—and a warning for states to prepare for drought. Similar conditions for Lower Colorado state were triggered the same year as the DCP was signed into law. Arizona is already preparing to manage with 20 percent less water from the Colorado Rover.