Colorado Rep. Neguse and Utah Rep. Maloy Lead Bipartisan Effort Urging Bureau of Reclamation to Prioritize Compliance with Existing Agreements As Officials Consider Flaming Gorge Drawdown
Washington, D.C. — Amid the ongoing Colorado River crisis, Democratic Representative Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Republican Representative Celeste Maloy (R-UT) led a bipartisan coalition of Members in urging the Bureau of Reclamation to ensure any drawdowns of Flaming Gorge—a critical, high-capacity water bank—and other upper basin reservoirs remain in compliance with existing agreements and governing laws.
The letter was co-signed by fellow Upper Basin lawmakers, including Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT), Jeff Crank (R-CO), Jeff Hurd (R-CO), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Jason Crow (D-CO), Mike Kennedy, M.D. (R-UT), and Gabe Evans (R-CO).
The Colorado River has experienced persistent drought conditions over the past 25 years, and Upper Basin states, including Colorado, actively regulate water use in response to reduced flows. Existing state laws can require water users to take mandatory, uncompensated cuts, which carry significant impacts to communities but are taken to ensure communities across the West live within the available water supply.
After a record-hot winter, Lake Powell, which serves as a water bank for Lower Basin states, is at just 23% full. These conditions have led to proposed drawdowns of Flaming Gorge and other upper basin reservoirs.
Neguse and his colleagues' message underscores the need for all seven states to work together to ensure long-term sustainability of the Colorado River and its reservoirs for years to come.
“We write as Representatives of the Upper Colorado River Basin States to underscore the importance that any proposed drawdowns for Flaming Gorge and other upper basin reservoirs remain in compliance with existing agreements and governing laws,” wrote the lawmakers.
“[It] is critical that any releases made by the federal government from Flaming Gorge and other upstream reservoirs are in compliance with existing agreements, governing laws, and are done for the direct purpose of protecting Lake Powell. There must be clear guidance on how these proposed releases will protect elevations at Lake Powell, and once the releases have been completed, Flaming Gorge and other upstream reservoirs must be fully recovered. These releases must also be appropriately sized, as continued water storage is necessary for long-term sustainability.”
They concluded, “Millions of people across the West rely on the Colorado River, and it is our shared responsibility to ensure long-term sustainability of the River and reservoirs for years to come.”
The Colorado River basin spans seven states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—and provides water for over 40 million people in the West.
Rep. Neguse, Co-Chair of the Colorado River Caucus, has been a leading voice in discussions regarding worsening levels of drought in the Colorado River Basin. He and other Members of Congress are actively working to address this issue, enacting significant bills that invest in drought resilience and water management into law in the 118th Congress.
Neguse has also partnered across party lines with fellow Western Slope Congressman Jeff Hurd (R-CO) to get the Trump administration to release critical federal drought management funding for Colorado and to move forward proposals that would safeguard the critical water source.
Read the lawmakers’ full letter HERE and below:
The Honorable Scott Cameron
Acting Commissioner
Bureau of Reclamation
1849 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20240
Dear Acting Commissioner Cameron,
We write as Representatives of the Upper Colorado River Basin States to underscore the importance that any proposed drawdowns for Flaming Gorge and other upper basin reservoirs remain in compliance with existing agreements and governing laws.
The Western United States and Colorado River Basin are experiencing historic drought conditions, in what could be the worst year on record. The Colorado River has consistently experienced drought conditions over the past 25 years, and record high temperatures coupled with low snowpack and precipitation across the basin this year are only further exacerbating the crisis. As we continue to face these conditions, we must all live within the available water supply to ensure sustainability into the future.
The Upper Basin States continue to actively regulate water use within their states in response to the decreased available flows. Existing state laws in the Upper Basin require water users to take mandatory, uncompensated cuts to water rights that date back to the 1800s — actions taken in direct response to the decreased runoff and water levels along the river. These cuts have significant impacts on water users, including Upper Basin Tribes, and local communities and economies, but are taken in order to live within the available water supply.
Therefore, it is critical that any releases made by the federal government from Flaming Gorge and other upstream reservoirs are in compliance with existing agreements, governing laws, and are done for the direct purpose of protecting Lake Powell. There must be clear guidance on how these proposed releases will protect elevations at Lake Powell, and once the releases have been completed, Flaming Gorge and other upstream reservoirs must be fully recovered. These releases must also be appropriately sized, as continued water storage is necessary for long-term sustainability.
Millions of people across the West rely on the Colorado River, and it is our shared responsibility to ensure long-term sustainability of the River and reservoirs for years to come. We appreciate your attention to this important matter.
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