Colorado River conservation conversations continue

The federal government is set to pick a drought mitigation plan this summer

YUMA, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) - The conservation conversation continues.

As the Colorado River Citizens Forum met to discuss the current state of the southwest’s most valuable resource.

All options are on the table to ensure communities get the water they need.

The meeting provides an opportunity for not just agricultural leaders to share their observations and concerns from across the watershed.

As major southwestern cities water supply could be hit heavily if the government decides to cut water deliveries by seniority.

“Seventy percent of Nevadans live in the Las Vegas valley and rely on getting their water from the Colorado River," Steven Anderson said.

In Washington D.C., Senator Mark Kelly continued discussions on water infrastructure.

Currently, when Yuma farmers order water from Lake Mead, some of it is lost along the way down the river due to evaporation, runoff, and vegetation.


He says funds recently provided by the federal government through the inflation reduction act should go toward these efforts.

Adding that while the recent strong snowpack is good news, one year of snow doesn’t reverse two decades of drought.

“We know from experience wet winters are often followed by dry winters the next year, so we need to continue to prepare for this,” Kelly said.

As part of that preparation, Senator Kelly is calling for the Army Corps of Engineers to help with conservation.

Helping communities like the Gila River Indian Community, as they look to start a solar panel project to generate power, should Lake Mead dead pool.

"We want to be one of the first net zero communities in Arizona, and a significant energy producer through this project,” Steven Roe Lewis said.

Public comments on the plans proposed by the government to maintain water levels at Lake Mead are due by May 30.