How has Arizona been working regionally to In 2007, to prepare for possible shortage and to prepare for a Colorado River shortage? guide Colorado River operations during low reservoir The Arizona Department of Water Resources and conditions, the seven Colorado River Basin states Central Arizona Project are taking proactive steps and the U.S.Bureau of Reclamation completed an to address the risk of Colorado River shortages and agreement clarifying the triggers and anticipated improve the health of the river system by working reductions during shortage conditions. This in collaboration with the Colorado River Basin document identifies the steps to be taken should states, federal government, Mexico and local and a shortage be declared. As part of the Shortage regional partners, including Yuma agricultural and Sharing Guidelines, water levels in Lake Mead and on-river municipal water users, in water resource Lake Powell are now coordinated to allow better management. Collaboration is focused on reducing management of the Colorado River supply. Water Colorado River Shortage the near-term risks caused by the ongoing drought users across the Basin continue to work together to as well as addressing the long-term imbalance promote the benefits of conserving Colorado River between supply and demands on the Colorado water. River system. Take a look at other innovations implemented by CAP and its partners: Impacts on Arizona Water Banking Reservoir Levels/Shortage • CAP, working in conjunction with the Arizona • CAP is investing more than $25 million in water Water Banking Authority, is storing water efficiency projects like Brock Reservoir, seasonal underground to protect against the impacts storage that reduces excess deliveries of of shortage and has developed a plan for the Colorado River water. This reservoir conserves recovery of that stored water. More than three approximately 100,000 acre-feet/year. million acre-feet of Colorado River water has • CAP is encouraging the U.S. to operate the been stored underground. Yuma Desalting Plant (YDP) or to prepare a • CAP’s innovative 100-year public-private water suitable alternative. CAP has funded the YDP recharge agreement with Liberty Utilities was pilot and, through its joint efforts with ADWR, is nominated for “water deal of the year” in the working to develop alternatives to conserve Global Water Awards sponsored by the Global 100,000 acre-feet/year. Water Institute. Liberty Utilities will sell excess • CAP is funding cloud seeding projects to effluent, or reclaimed water, to CAP which will increase runoff and stream flows in the Colorado then safely recharge the water underground. River basin. A new study finds the results of those programs very encouraging. Agricultural Conservation • CAP along with ADWR, the federal government, • CAP agricultural customers have invested the Colorado River Commission of Nevada, the $3,600 per acre in water efficiencies including Colorado River Board of California, Metropolitan laser leveling fields, drip irrigation and other Water District of Southern California and the mechanisms to reduce water consumption and Southern Nevada Water Authority are taking use CAP water as efficiently as possible. actions to store water in Lake Mead to avoid • CAP instituted a water-rate incentive program or delay potential shortages. This approach, to reward agricultural customers who have totaling 745,000 acre-feet of water, could delay instituted best management practices and shortages and begin to address longer-term improved water use efficiency. challenges to Lake Mead.

April 2015 Arizona is Prepared for Colorado River Shortage FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: The Colorado River system has experienced You Should Know: A Colorado River shortage would reduce CAP extensive drought conditions for nearly 15 years, • A near-term Colorado River water shortage What is a Colorado River Shortage? supplies by up to 320,000 acre-feet. CAP’s share resulting in Lake Mead dropping to historically does not mean that Arizona is in a water crisis. A shortage is an annual reduction in the amount of of the Colorado River is 1.6 million acre-feet. low reservoir levels. In addition, uses in the Lower • With the exception of a potential increase Colorado River water available to Arizona, Nevada Should levels in Lake Mead continue to fall even Basin states exceed normal supply, driving lake in CAP water rates, Arizona’s cities, towns, and Mexico and is determined primarily by the after a shortage has been declared, additional elevation even lower. This is important because industries, mines and tribes using CAP water will volume of water in Lake Mead. Each month, the cutbacks to CAP, Nevada and Mexico will occur at the water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell not be affected by a near-term shortage. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (which manages the determine how much Colorado River water elevations 1050’ and 1025’. The Arizona Department • A near-term shortage will impact water Colorado River system) forecasts the elevation Arizona, along with other water users in the Lower of Water Resources (ADWR) and CAP are working supplies available to central Arizona farmers, of the surface of Lake Mead for the following Colorado River Basin (Arizona, California, Nevada the Arizona Water Banking Authority for two years in a document called the 24-month and Mexico), receives on an annual basis. The storage, and for replenishment. study. If the elevation predicted by the August Colorado River supplies nearly 40 percent of 24-month study for January 1 of the following • Arizona’s innovative water management Arizona’s total water use. year falls below an elevation of 1075’, a shortage programs and collaborative long-term would be declared for the following year (e.g. a Thanks to Arizona’s innovative water manage- planning has allowed for water providers shortage would be declared for 2017 if the August ment programs and collaborative long-term and private entities to store additional water 2016 prediction of January 2017 is below 1075’). A planning, the state has enjoyed reliable water supplies underground, thus reducing the shortage has never been declared on the Colorado supplies and is prepared to handle the effects of state’s vulnerability to near-term shortage. River since 1964. the current drought and impending potential • Arizona has set precedent with rigorous water Colorado River shortage which may occur as conservation and sustainability laws that Based on current hydrologic conditions, the early as 2016, although more likely in 2017. protect Arizona water users. Lower Colorado River Basin could see an official declaration of shortage as early as 2016 with an increasing probability of shortage in 2017 (greater than 50 % chance). Central Arizona Project would be subject to reductions in Colorado River water because CAP holds a “junior” priority water cooperatively with many other Colorado River entitlement among the Lower Basin states. users to stop or delay these additional cutbacks by protecting levels in Lake Mead. Who will be impacted by a Colorado River Shortage? Is Arizona prepared for a Colorado River A near-term shortage will not impact water supplies shortage? for Arizona’s cities, towns, industries, mines or tribes Arizona has been planning for a potential shortage using CAP water. It would, however, eliminate for decades. Since 1996, CAP has worked with Central Arizona Project (CAP) water supplies to the Arizona Water Banking Authority (AWBA) to the Arizona Water Banking Authority. It would also store excess CAP water underground to provide reduce a portion of the CAP water supply identified back-up supplies for municipal, industrial and for groundwater replenishment, which would Native American water users. More than twice impact agricultural users in central Arizona and may the amount (3.2 million acre-feet, which exceeds cause an increase in CAP water rates. In the face a trillion gallons) of the Colorado River water that of potential shortage, farmers in central Arizona is delivered to central Arizona annually has been may choose to offset supply reductions in their CAP stored to date. CAP, the ADWR and the AWBA supply by using local supplies including pumping have planned to recover and deliver these supplies groundwater. should the need arise.