Jennifer Pitt
Senior Policy Analyst, Environmental Defense

The challenge for managing the Colorado River in the 21st century is figuring out how to adapt historic policies to fit today’s needs. We clearly must have ways to provide adequate urban water supply. The blistering pace of growth in the West doesn’t appear to be slowing: by 2015 we could easily have another 6 million people living in areas served by Colorado River water.

At the same time, we recognize the need to restore natural areas lost by our nearly exhaustive use of the Colorado. We have to manage the river so we don’t inadvertently destroy it. We should be able to set water aside for the environment. The Colorado’s delta and the wildlife that call it home have been damaged by our use of Colorado River water, but it’s not too late to save it. A little water goes a long way to revive these unique desert ecosystems, as we’ve seen in the Ciénega de Santa Clara.

In the past, we solved our water problems with dams. But storage capacity on the Colorado already exceeds average annual flow fourfold, so new dams aren’t going to help. Today’s leaders have to broker agreements that allow us to adapt water use to today’s needs while protecting the rights of all water users.

Market transactions—the buying and selling of water—are certain to become more prevalent with time. Interstate water transfers are badly needed. Water users in both Mexico and the United States would benefit from the flexibility to enter binational water transfer agreements. But an unfettered market could lead to avoidable adverse consequences for third parties, including water users, local communities, and the environment. The Imperial Irrigation District-San Diego County Water Authority water transfer remains clouded by unresolved issues including controversy over the All-American Canal lining, disputes over community economic adjustment payments, and the uncertain future of the Salton Sea. We need to structure water transfers to work for communities and the environment.

As we accommodate urban growth, cities should be held accountable for their water use. Buying out farms to increase urban water supply for inefficient or wasteful use in cities makes no sense. Conservation should be the first source of new water for growing cities, and permission to transfer water from agriculture carries the responsibility to use it efficiently.

While we have surely done great things with the Colorado’s waters in the past and we have made significant management and allocation improvements in recent years, there is much more to be done and change is necessary. The days of limitless, cheap water for any purpose in any place are coming to a close.

David S. Wilson, Jr.
General Manager,
Central Arizona Project >>

Bob Johnson
Commissioner,
Bureau of Reclamation >>

Jeff Kightlinger
General Manager, Metropolitan Water District >>