Tensions rise over drought-stricken Colorado River water use

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

As the Interior Department continues to delay implementing a program to reduce water consumption from the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin, tensions are thickening between the seven states with stakes in the watershed.

Now, lawmakers in Congress are fanning the flames as Capitol Hill looks ahead to must-pass, biennial water legislation.

The seven Colorado River Basin states — Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California — have been sparring over who receives the biggest reductions in allocations after Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton announced a 2019 deal with the states that hinged on them saving 2 million to 4 million acre-feet of water — as much as a third of the river’s flows — or the federal government would intervene.

The states have been stuck at the bargaining table since, missing their August deadline to reach an agreement.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/tensions-rise-over-drought-stricken-colorado-river-water-use/ar-AA13GGCB

[mn9driver]

1. All of the players are going to have to accept cuts.

Lakes Powell and Mead are steadily falling and have been for years. The status quo is unsustainable.

Ironically, the large cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas are doing a great job in reducing water usage. Las Vegas has added 750,000 residents in the last 20 years while reducing water usage by 26 percent over the same period.

The main user of the Colorado’s water is agriculture, followed by commercial operations. These are the interests that are preventing an agreement. They have the lions share of existing water rights, and they are refusing to budge.

[Leith]

2. Here's a list of top Las Vegas water users

https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/a8/04/47f1f2114a0589b422fbf86a2045/2021-water-use-all-providers.pdf

Not really surprising that the Venetian hotel & casino is the biggest one - it was built with "canals" running through it. If water wasting businesses - especially golf courses - weren't spraying water all over the place just to look fancy, I wouldn't have to worry about letting my laundry sit in the basket until I need underwear.