New agreement would let Arizona, Nevada use water from California desalination plant

California, Arizona and Nevada signed a new water sharing agreement that would allow Nevada and Arizona to access water from a San Diego desalination plant under certain conditions, reports Jeniffer Solis in Nevada Current.

"The desalination plant, operated by the San Diego County Water Authority, can produce 54 million gallons a day. And in years San Diego has a surplus of water, the proposed program would allow California’s share of the Colorado River to be transferred to other states," Solis explains. "Long-term drought has reduced Colorado River system water storage to about 36% of capacity, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation." Lower water levels also threaten the production of hydroelectric power in the region. 

The plan does not involve sending water from the plant directly to Lake Mead, but would create a system of "paper" transfers and credits that would help stabilize Lake Mead during water shortages. The program would be the first to transfer Colorado River Basin water across state lines.