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SYSTEM CONSERVATION

Learn about a pilot program to address drought impacts by compensating voluntary water use reductions across the Colorado River Basin. Collaboration among various stakeholders is key to water conservation.

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SYSTEM CONSERVATION

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  1. SYSTEM CONSERVATION Colby Pellegrino, Colorado River Programs Manager Southern Nevada Water Authority

  2. Persistent drought in the Colorado River Basin has caused significant impacts throughout the Basin.

  3. HISTORY HAS SHOWN: Partnership and collaboration is key to finding long-term solutions on the Colorado River

  4. DROUGHT Lake Mead Elevation

  5. DROUGHT Lake Powell Elevation

  6. WATER QUALITY POWER GENERATION DECLINING WATER LEVELS SUPPLY/DEMAND IMBALANCE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

  7. Water conservation is an effective method to addressing drought impacts.

  8. PILOT PROGRAM COST: $11 MILLION Bureau of Reclamation – Denver Water – Metropolitan Water District of Southern California – Central Arizona Project – Southern Nevada Water Authority PURPOSE Evaluate feasibility of mitigating drought impacts and demand imbalance through compensated voluntary reductions in use or loss 2 YEAR Pilot Program

  9. PILOT PROGRAM DETAILS • What System Conservation Does: • Offers monetary compensation for voluntary reductions in water use • Seeks participants throughout the Basin • Seeks water from diverse interests (municipal, industrial, recreational, agriculturaland others) • Protects the critical elevations of lakes Powell and Mead • Benefits the system as a whole, not any particular user

  10. PILOT PROGRAM DETAILS • What System Conservation Does Not Do: • Targets a specific water use • Shepherds the water to Lake Powell • Benefit any single state or water user

  11. PILOT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION • The program is being administered separately in the Upper and Lower Basins • Bureau of Reclamation is the administrator for the Lower Basin • Upper Colorado River Commission is the administrator for the Upper Basin • Initial funding allocations were no more than $8.25 million in the Lower Basin and $2.75 million in the Upper Basin

  12. PILOT PROGRAM: LOWER BASIN STATUS TOTAL 62,352AF

  13. PILOT PROGRAM: UPPER BASIN STATUS (2015) TOTAL ~ 3,027 AF

  14. PILOT PROGRAM: UPPER BASIN STATUS (2016) • 32 project proposals have been submitted for the Upper Basin Program in 2016 • Project costs range from less than $200 per acre-foot to more than $3,000 per acre-foot • Project proposals exceed $6 million in funding requests

  15. LESSONS LEARNED SO FAR… • We all have day jobs, and we miss them! • Water Conservation ≠ Paper Conservation! • Interest exceeds funding allocations • Word-of-mouth has been beneficial

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