April 12, 2022
The U.S. Department of the Interior has proposed a reduction in the annual release volume from Lake Powell from 7.48 to 7.0 million acre-feet for water year 2022. This is based on the Department's determination that additional actions are needed to protect dam operations and hydropower production, and to address public health and safety concerns.
Below is a statement from Colorado River Commissioner Becky Mitchell:
As of March 15, Lake Powell, a major reservoir that feeds water to the Lower Colorado River Basin, fell below elevation 3525 feet. This is the target elevation identified within the Drought Contingency Plan that provides a buffer to hydropower.
In December 2021, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment launched their PFAS grant program. PFAS are man-made chemicals with properties that make them useful for many products - the same properties that are difficult to remove from the environment.
The 2021 Colorado River Water Users Association (CRWUA) Annual Conference kicked off on December 14 in Las Vegas, Nevada, gathering water leaders and stakeholders from across the Colorado River Basin.
Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) staff has been directed to implement Senate Bill 21-240, also known as Wildfire Ready Watersheds.
The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) has launched a new online CWCB Portal that will be used to accept Water Plan Grant applications now through December 1.
On October 15, Colorado Water Conservation Board Director Rebecca Mitchell - who also serves as Colorado River Commissioner for the state - testified before the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife on “Colorado River Drought Conditions and Response Measures.”
On September 22, the Bureau of Reclamation released updated projections for levels in the Colorado River’s major reservoirs - Lake Powell and Lake Mead. As a result of continued historic drought and low runoff conditions, both reservoirs are at risk of reaching critically low levels.