Bureau of Reclamation Announces Water Shortage and New Limits for Colorado River
On August 16, the Bureau of Reclamation (BoR) announced the first federal water shortage declaration for the Colorado River Basin (CRB) based on the results of its 24-month study projecting ongoing shortages from drought conditions. This announcement has prompted new 2022 operating rules to limit releases and reduce water usage. The CRB is currently at 40 percent capacity and the inflow from Lake Powell to Lake Mead is at approximately 32 percent of average. The BoR will work with other federal agencies, the seven CRB states, tribes, farmers, communities, and with Mexico to continue to implement their collaborative agreements and plans with detailed operational rules and conservation actions to address the increasing water shortage. For more information, read the BoR news release.
