On Wednesday, the states of California, Nevada and Arizona Announce a Voluntary Agreement to Reduce Water Consumption from the Colorado River. In addition to the three states, Mexico was included, because part of the country is part of the lower basin of the Colorado River.
The agreement was named “Plan 500+” leading states to voluntarily give up water to reduce stress on Lake Mead and Lake Powell. The intention of the plan is to maintain an additional million acres of water in the lakes for the next two years.
Thus, An additional 500,000 acres of water will be preserved in Lake Mead in 2022 and again in 2023. In addition, funds will be required from the lower basin states: $ 40 million from Arizona, $ 20 million from Nevada, California and the Central Arizona Project, while the federal government will provide $ 200 million.
Thursday, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, said it was about time that the lower basin states began to reduce their water use, because it was no secret that the three aforementioned states have been drawing too much water from the Colorado River for several decades.
“The lower basin has been abusing its portion of the Colorado River for years. Everybody knows that the upper basin states have absolutely underutilized their amounts compared to the lower basin states, and California is the most egregious example of that, ”the governor said during his monthly PBS Utah news conference.
But nevertheless, if the water deficit persists, the states of California, Nevada, Arizona and the country of Mexico, could demand that Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico reduce their water use, since the purpose is to preserve water supplies, during drought.
Meanwhile, experts have revealed that soil moisture is 7.6 percent higher than average for this time of year. Which is good news, as the snow that receives the Colorado River is melting and going directly to the reservoirs.
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