dinated reservoir operations and lower reservoir level operations.” Te agricultural conservation work-


group had several discussion items to consider, including developing guide- lines for quantifying how the water saved through infrastructure investments is credited to the river in a way that avoids third party impacts or unintended consequences. Further water use efficiency and use


of recycled water “has the potential to reduce the amount of future develop- ment of Colorado River water,” though that must be tempered by the fact that those measures “may not result in substantial reductions in diversions of Colorado River water because conserva- tion and reuse are typically used to meet future growth or offset or delay the need for future water supplies,” the Moving Forward report says. Others recognize the nuanced dif-


ferences between agricultural conserva- tion and municipal conservation. Te


Lettuce harvest in Yuma, AZ


“Farmers are doing more to increase productivity with the same amount of water.”


– Chuck Cullom, Central Arizona Project


Colorado River Research Group noted that “saving water in agricultural settings is a much more complicated subject” than urban conservation and “is a sub- ject in need of much more thoughtful and informed discussions” because “of all the Colorado River issues that deserve greater attention, the future of agricul- ture is perhaps the most salient.” According to a July 24 paper by the


Family Farm Alliance, “Colorado River Basin Water Management: Principles and Recommendations,” “continuing to look to irrigated agriculture as a new ‘source’ of water to solve growing urban


and environmental problems can carry enormous consequences and costs to society,” and that “the reduction in the number of domestic food producing farms and ranches will incrementally impact the currently affordable cost of food and fiber …” Augmenting urban supplies hinge


on strong storage levels at Lake Mead, whether it’s through getting system credits by adding treated water to the river, activating the Yuma Desalter or further cooperative efforts with Mexico, Hasencamp said.


In the Crosshairs?


About 70 percent of developed Colorado River water goes to agriculture. Te water produces 15 percent of the nation’s crops and about 13 percent of its livestock – valued at $1.5 billion annually, accord- ing to the Colorado River Water Users Association. Agriculture’s water is used to some- times buffer the urban supply and


6 • Colorado River Project • River Report • Summer 2015


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