difficulties or we can insist on intu- itions and laws and policies that no longer fit reality and just sit back and wait for reality to just whack us on the head and that’s a very painful process,” said the University of Utah professor. “When there is no more water in Lake Powell or Lake Mead, someone’s going to say … something’s not working right here.
“We can wait until that happen … or we can say let’s anticipate what’s going to happen, prepare for it and that will lessen the impact of it. It doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be any im- pacts – any time you reallocate water, or wealth or make changes in laws there are winners and losers. I’m just suggesting this will create more winners than losers as opposed to sitting back and waiting for nature to explode in our face.”
Supply augmentation is merely “rearranging the deck chairs,” McCool said.
“We have enough water in the
American West – there is enough water for the people who live here and enough water for some modest growth. So it’s not a question of pretending we have an infinite supply of water – we don’t. Unless somebody creates a new river with a new water supply, that’s not going to change. So the real question is how do we reallocate water in a way that maximizes efficiency and fairness and compensates the losers, rewards
the winners and allows us to build a sustainable river system?”
The Study is “ultimately … a call to immediate and concrete action,” Cullom said.
“When we consider the potential for the onset of critical imbalances in the Colorado River system as early as 2025, the time required to develop and implement new water conservation programs, as well as the time needed to conduct feasibility studies, design, permit, and construct large capac- ity infrastructure projects, it is clear that immediate action to begin these processes is needed,” Cullom said. “The U.S., the Basin states and key water agencies will need to continue their history of working cooperatively so that they can take the necessary actions to implement new projects and programs to bridge these imbalances, as well as include new voices in the discussion.” Although the Study does not result in any decisions it provides “a common technical foundation that frames the range of potential imbalances that may be faced in the future and the range of solutions that may be considered to resolve those imbalances,” Jerla said.
“The Study is a critical first step and while it addresses many questions it at the same time raises additional ones. This is a positive and will ensure this important dialogue continues in the Basin,” she said. ❖
See the slideshow “The Colorado River: A Lifeline of the Southwest” by the Water Education Foundation
Watch the September seminar “Past, Present and Future” sponsored by the Colorado River District