Winter 2014-2015


A project of the Water Education Foundation


The Colorado River System Conservation Program: Wringing Even More Savings from the System


By Gary Pitzer As the multiyear drought continues


across the Colorado River Basin and the two main reservoirs along the river reach lower and lower levels, federal officials and the major users of the river’s water are seeking to avert crisis conditions and offering millions of dollars to stimulate new water conservation proposals.


Te unprecedented action is con-


vening amid conditions that could leave nearly 6 million people without hydropower and impact water supplies to more than 30 million people in the Southwest. Te Colorado River provides water to a large swath of agricultural, industrial and urban users, in the process fueling a strong economy.


Launched in October, the Colorado


River System Conservation Program aims to curb water use through pilot projects pitched by municipal, industrial and agricultural users throughout the seven Colorado River Basin states. Such projects include potentially fallowing farm fields to tearing out large patches of turf.


Continued on page 3


Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam


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