States Propose , Competing Plans to Help , Lake Mead Water Levels Recover.
'Newsweek' reports that states in the lower Colorado River basin have proposed solutions as water levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell inch closer to dead pool status.
Water cuts have already been implemented and increased in severity in Arizona and Nevada in 2023.
The cuts have left western states scrambling to come up with a solution that preserves their access to Colorado River water while also aiding the reservoirs' recovery.
'Newsweek' reports that increased water use and water evaporation from global warming have contributed to the declining water levels amid a historic 20-year drought.
Despite torrential rains and a higher-than-normal snowpack melt, experts say water use must be cut for the reservoirs to recover.
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So far, seven states in the Colorado River basin, including California, have proposed , water conservation plans.
The best way to avoid conflict and ensure that we can put water in the river right away is through a voluntary approach, not putting proposals that sidestep the Law of the River and ignore California's senior right and give no respect to that, JB Hamby, Colorado River Board of California Chairman, via Associated Press.
'Newsweek' reports that up to 80% of water from the Colorado River is used for agricultural purposes, including in California.
According to University of California, Davis professor Jay Lund, humans need to reduce their water use, even at the cost of fallowing local agriculture.
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We might get lucky with the weather, but the idea of the system recovering is really hard unless you reduce water use in that basin, Jay Lund, Professor University of California, Davis, via 'Newsweek'
