Nevada’s top Colorado River negotiator came out swinging Monday with a pointed letter urging the federal government to take a long list of actions soon to bring water uses on the depleted river in line with its supply.
The letter from Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager John Entsminger expressed frustration that the seven river basin states haven’t done anything in 62 days of talks to carry out a federal order to drastically cut river water use.
Saying “absolutely nothing” has been accomplished in the past two months of interstate negotiations over the river, despite a federal directive and a deadline of Aug. 16, Entsminger wrote that it’s time for U.S. officials to order specific cuts in water use.
His letter went to three top U.S. Interior Department officials, led by Interior Secretary Deborah Haaland.
Numbering a dozen, his solutions run the gamut from creating regional turf removal programs, to improving farms’ water use efficiency, to cracking down on how water users can justify their use of river water as beneficial in order to be eligible to take the water.
He called for eliminating “wasteful municipal watering of non-functional turf” and requiring seasonal irrigation schedules in cities to save water.
He also said water users in the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada should have to include evaporation and other water losses in the Lower Basin in determining their total supplies. That action by itself could knock out well over one-third of the 2 million acre-feet minimum that the feds want the states to save.
If such efforts don’t get accomplished, his Las Vegas-based water authority is ready to work with other parties on “common sense federal legislation” to bring river water use in line with supply, Entsminger wrote.
He didn’t elaborate, but a source said that at a seven-state river meeting Thursday in Denver, Entsminger suggested legislation that would reduce the river water supply of California, which has by far the river’s largest share of 4.4 million acre-feet a year.
Entsminger declined to comment on that report, saying, “As a rule of decorum in these negotiations, we do not comment on specific matters that occur in these negotiations.”
“We are at the stage where basin-wide, every drop counts, and every single drop we are short of achieving 2 to 4 million acre-feet in permanent reductions draws us a step closer to the catastrophic collapse of the system, as well as draconian water management practices to protect health and human safety that we have successfully staved off in the past through cooperation,” Entsminger wrote. “Each temporary action must be a bridge to permanent reductions and must be implemented posthaste.”
On Tuesday, Aug. 16, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is scheduled to announce how it will respond to the seven states’ failure so far to reach agreement on a plan to cut water use next year by 2 million to 4 million acre-feet a year. Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton directed the states in mid-June to come up with a firm plan to carry out such cuts by mid-August or face federal intervention.
In a letter to Haaland on Tuesday, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, also urged the feds to step in and take action.
"In the basin states negotiations, Arizona has offered to put more wet water on the table than any other state, while other parties have offered a fraction of the same amount. Other states with significant water allocations have so far offered insufficient or uncertain amounts of water," Kelly wrote.
"Therefore, as a matter of accountability for the missed August 15th deadline, I request that you outline the Department’s options and legal authorities for implementing mitigation measures that would prevent drastic consequences for Arizona and other Colorado Basin States, including the loss of hydropower generation at Hoover Dam and reduced Colorado River water availability for any user in the Lower Basin," Kelly wrote. "Such options should recognize and account for the early and consistent contributions that Arizona has made and will continue to make to preserve waterlevels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell."
The seven states’ water officials couldn’t reach agreement, due in part to uncertainty among Lower Basin officials as to how much to cut water use, and in part to the Lower Basin’s unwillingness to accept the Upper Basin’s position that it won’t do any conservation immediately but would wait for several studies and congressional action before launching conservation actions. The Upper Basin states are Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Nevada’s Entsminger is the first public official to have offered any detailed fixes for the Colorado River’s chronic overuse of water.
His letter also comes as various water experts offered a wide range of outlooks for whether and how soon Reclamation will act. Several experts say they believe Reclamation will create a plan eventually but will delay that into next year to give states more time to come up with a plan, while other experts are dubious about Reclamation’s willingness to take any politically or legally controversial actions.
Visitors walk around the Hoover Dam, where severe and prolonged drought conditions have exposed the rocky sides of Black Canyon and the intake towers that feed the dam’s power generators.
Entsminger noted that back in mid-June, he and Touton “sat side by side in the United States Senate and conveyed to the world that the Colorado River is on the brink of crisis.”
But, “despite the obvious urgency of the situation, the last 62 days produced exactly nothing in terms of meaningful collective action to help forestall the looming crisis,” Entsminger wrote. “The unreasonable expectations of water users, including the prices and drought profiteering proposals, only further divide common goals and interests. Through our collective inaction, the federal government, the basin states and every water user on the Colorado River is complicit in allowing the situation to reach this point.”
By “drought profiteering proposals,” Entsminger said later, he was referring to a request from Yuma-area farmers for $1,500 an acre-foot compensation for cutting water use. The farmers say such payments are needed to match the economic losses the farmers would incur from giving up that much water.
“To the broader river community, I say this: The Colorado River cannot provide enough water for the current level of use. The magnitude of the problem is so large that every single water user in every single sector must contribute solutions to this problem regardless of the priority system,” Entsminger wrote, adding, “the bulk of the responsibility to reduce use falls upon water users downstream of Hoover Dam, because that is where the bulk of the water is used.”
Colorado environmental activist Jennifer Pitt and New Mexico water researcher/author John Fleck praised Entsminger’s letter, with Pitt calling it “pretty spot on.”
“We have to figure out how to use less water. That part is not negotiable. It’s not great that there’s less water to use. But it does seem like collaborative decision-making is a path toward a socially economically viable strategy, rather than letting it be dictated by a century-old law, and letting people interpreting century-old laws and agreements that did not anticipate these conditions,” she said. She was referring to the 1922 Colorado River Compact that divided the river’s water between the Lower and Upper basins.
“His list of actions is a really good list of actions. Somebody should figure out how to get them done. If it’s the states, great. If the states can’t do it, then somebody better have a plan. It there is no plan announced (Tuesday), it would be irresponsible for the feds to not start working on a plan,” said Pitt, the National Audubon Society’s Colorado River programs manager.
The water users’ inability to come up with a plan responding to the scale of the crisis adds much risk to the river systems and its Lakes Mead and Powell, Fleck said.
He added, “It’s not enough just to reduce water use to its current supply to stabilize the reservoirs, we need to cut even more to refill the reservoirs to provide conditions that protect against the next dry period.”
“By missing the deadline we’ve done a disservice to everyone in the basin who depends on this river,” Fleck said.
Upper Colorado River Commission executive director Chuck Cullom said he agreed with several of Entsminger’s proposals and noted that many cities in the Upper Basin states already have or are embarking on some, including turf removal programs. Unlike the Lower Basin, the Upper Basin already counts water losses from evaporation against the water supplies that it has the right to use, he said.
He also supported more efficient water use for irrigated agriculture. He added that the federal government should carry out its existing authority to save more water in the Lower Basin rather than pursuing legislative changes.
But Sarah Porter, director of an Arizona State University water research center, said that while she liked many of Entsminger’s proposals, it’s easy for Nevada to make them because it only has a small amount of river water rights and only one major user — Las Vegas-area municipalities.
Also, Nevada has already dug pipes deep enough into Lake Mead that it can extract water from it even when the lake drops to “dead pool,” at 895-foot elevation, at which nobody else can get water from it, she noted.
“It’s good that they’re in that position to provide moral leadership to the rest of the states. But other states have harder problems to solve. They have cities, agriculture, tribes, a lot of different interests to balance,” said Porter, of ASU’s Kyl Center for Water Policy.
Dan Beard, a former Bureau of Reclamation commissioner from the 1990s, said he’s skeptical that federal authorities will act on their own to fix the river’s problems.
“The Bureau of Reclamation is a government agency and it operates under significant pressure from a lot of different directions. The bureau answers to the assistant Interior secretary, the assistant answers to the secretary and the secretary answers to the president,” said Beard, who served under President Bill Clinton.
“I hope the bureau will come forward with meaningful proposals. But if history is any guide, they won’t. They may start out that way, but the system will grind away on it and make it very difficult to come forward with meaningful proposals,” Beard said. “If they come forward with a proposal, it will be a high risk proposal. If they don’t, they will have egg on their faces.”
By contrast, former Assistant Interior Secretary Anne Castle said she believes the bureau will take action, but added, “I understand that might not happen right away. The August 16 deadline no longer appears to be a firm line.
“I think the feds feel a real obligation to protect the system from crashing. It’s their job to protect the infrastructure for sure. They have the obligation and authority to make sure that bad things don’t happen to the dam and the power plants, both Hoover and Glen Canyon,” said Castle, who was assistant secretary for water and science during the Obama administration.
“Overall, I think they really want to keep the river system viable and not let it just run itself into the ground with the huge devastating impacts that would have.”
Photos: Construction of Hoover Dam on the Colorado River in the 1930s
This general view of Black Canyon on the Colorado River, looking upstream toward the site of Hoover Dam, shows a temporary steel suspension bridge in the foreground and portals of the 56-inch diversion tunnel bores which will carry the river water while the dam is under construction, March 12, 1932. The dam will be in Black Canyon, despite the fact that it is generally known as the Boulder Canyon Project. (AP Photo)
This photograph was made from the Nevada side of the river, and shows some of the blasting operations in progress, Aug. 24, 1932 in Nevada. Some idea of the difficulties of the operations may be gained from this view of the rock cliffs. (AP Photo)
This view shows the interior of one of the tunnels through which the Colorado River will be diverted around the Hoover Dam site in Boulder City, Nev., April 18, 1932. The project is in the early stages of construction. (AP Photo)
Looking down on Hoover Dam site, the parapet is directly over the power plant site, and also part of the Nevada-Arizona highway which will traverse the dam, shown Aug. 24, 1932. Beyond this will be the greatest lake ever created by man. (AP Photo)
A lake covering 227 miles will form the 30,500,000 acre foot reservoir from Hoover Dam when completed. Elmer L. Chapman, junior reclamation service engineer, points to the hills which will be submerged after the completion of the project in Nevada, Aug. 24, 1932. The flat top lone mountain in the center of the photograph will be an island 14 feet above water. (AP Photo)
This is a downstream view of the Hoover Dam showing the immense concrete blocks rising from the bedrock of Black Canyon's floor, which will be the core of the dam, near Boulder City, Nev., Aug. 12, 1933. Concrete is being poured into the forms at the rate of about 6,000 cubic yards daily. (AP Photo)
Construction continues Jan. 9, 1932 as workers construct the retaining wall that gives support to the road leading over the top of Hoover Dam. Labor troubles were experienced during the huge engineering project on the Colorado River near Las Vegas, Nevada. (AP Photo)
Gravel screening and washing plant in 1934. Glaha, Ben D., 1899-1970, photographer
Boulder Dam, (i.e. Hoover Dam) between Arizona and Nevada in 1933. Placing concrete in the sidewall of the Nevada spillway. A 2 cubic yard bottom-dump bucket is being handled by crane. Note the manner in which the panels are staggered
Penstock on trailer, 1934. Glaha, Ben D., 1899-1970, photographer
The Nevada intake towers at Boulder Dam in 1934. Glaha, Ben D., 1899-1970, photographer
Grouting concrete lining in 50' diameter diversion tunnel in 1934. Glaha, Ben D., 1899-1970, photographer
Construction of the Hoover Dam continues, a constant stream of large trucks dumping fifty tons of soil a minute, built an earth fill dam across the Colorado River, forcing its turbulent waters into two fifty-foot diversion tunnels on the Arizona canyon wall on Nov. 15, 1932. (AP Photo)
Inside of diversion tunnel no. 3, on the boulder dam project, showing concreting operations, July 9, 1934. The intersection of the inclined tunnel from the intake tower (above) with the present diversion which is being plugged. These tunnels will carry the 30-foot diameter steel penstocks for the power system. Photo by bureau of reclamation. (AP Photo)
This is an aerial view of one of the four intake towers of the Hoover Dam, Aug. 9, 1934. The towers, two on each side of the canyon upstream from the dam, will measure at 380 feet high. (AP Photo)
The Boulder Dam, Black Canyon of Colorado River, is nearing completion, this view showing 500 of its projected 730 feet above the canyon floor, Aug. 28, 1934. The federal reclamation service, directing the construction, says the dam, now 80 per center completed will be finished next April, a full year ahead of schedule. (AP Photo)
A view of the huge Boulder Dam operation from a high point on the Nevada rim of the Black Canyon, shown Sept. 11, 1934. The immensity of the project can be seen from this picture. (AP Photo)
Hoover Dam takes shape from the concrete columns in which it was poured (shot from cableway control tower downstream on Nevada rim, so looking upstream) in 1934.
The rarely-seen upstream face of Hoover Dam, May 1935
This is a view of the Hoover Dam from upstream as construction continues near Boulder City, Nev., Feb. 1, 1935. The crack in the upper center of the dam is a space left open for cooling and settling of the concrete and will be filled as work progresses. (AP Photo)
This aerial view shows a crest of the Hoover Dam, aka Boulder Dam, showing the highway leading across it on July 16, 1935. The road, soon to be opened to the public, will provide an easy route between Las Vegas, Nev., and Kingman, Arizona. The intake towers jut up on the other side of the dam in Boulder City, Nevada. (AP Photo)
Night view of Boulder Dam and Mead Lake taken from a plane United airlines-western air express shows the roadway over the dam top illuminated and the candles atop the intake towers casting their reflections on the water, Sept.22, 1936 in Boulder City, Nevada. (AP Photo)
Behind boulder dam, in the black canyon of the Colorado River, is the largest man-made lake in the world shown, June 11, 1938. Pressing against the barrier of concrete and steel are 20,000,000 acre-feet of water which, translated into gallons, is enough to provide 51,100 gallons for every person in the United States. This water is to be used to meet the needs of the power house at the toe of the dam, and to irrigate the thousands of acres of reclaimed desert downstream in Arizona and California. (AP Photo)
Meet the Champs. These six 82,500 kva generators in the Nevada wing of the power house at Boulder Dam are the biggest in the word, Feb.7, 1939 . Power produced at the dam by these generators and one in the Arizona wing, amounts to 130,000,000 kilowatt hours of energy each month which sells for ?290,000. The Bureau of Reclamation which built and operates the dam, received $3,297,289 in two years. Production at this time is approximately one-third of the ultimate capacity. (AP Photo)
Aerial view of Hoover (Boulder) Dam on the Colorado River, Dec. 11, 1948. (AP Photo)
This is Main Street in Boulder City, Nevada, Aug. 24, 1932, the model construction housing center for the workers on the huge Hoover Dam project. This city was constructed at a cost of $2,000,000. (AP Photo)
A three million pound gate of tunnel no. 4, shown above at left, was ready to close, Feb. 1, 1935, stopping flow of the Colorado River at the Boulder Dam, thus starting filling of a huge reservoir. The above photo taken just before the gate stated closing shows a coffer dam built across the entrance of tunnel no. 3, which has been diverting the river through the canyon walls and around the dam on the Arizona side. (AP Photo)
Spectators watch from bridge over spillway as Boulder Dam overflows for first time, August 6, 1941, and pours 15,000 cubic feet per minute from record level of Lake Mead into Colorado River behind the dam. Spillway leads into tunnel 50 feet in diameter and then 2200 feet to river level below where water bursts out in great jet. At Dam, Lake Mead had reached level of 590 feet and contained more than 10,000,000,000,000 of water. (AP Photo)
The mighty man-made falls of the Colorado River with the six outlets wide open in a night display. Since the start of generation of power here the dam has been a night-time Mecca for tourists in Los Angeles, Sept. 22, 1936. The transmission of power to Los Angeles will be started on October 9. (AP Photo)
The 115,000-vollite generator in the world?s biggest power plant, here at Boulder City, Sept. 29, 1936, where all is in readiness to start electricity over the world?s longest power transmission line ? 365 miles to Los Angeles. (AP Photo)
This magnificent man-made scenic favorite is Hoover Dam by night, May 11, 1953, one of this century?s outstanding triumphs of engineering and construction. At its foot is Lake Mead, the world?s largest man-made body of water on Popular with anglers and fans of boating, Lake Mead is fast becoming a favorite vacation playground. Gateway to the Hoover Dam ? Lake Mead recreational area is fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada on the main line of Union Pacific Railroad. AP Photo)
The mighty Hoover Dam impresses a young Swiss couple making their first tour of United States on their scooter, April 9, 1954 in Nevada. Natives of Zurich, Fred and Beatrice Troller were veteran scooter travelers in Europe before coming here. (AP Photo)
Boulder Dam?s mighty water intake towers, rising 395 feet into the air, are in picture of the gigantic power project shown, April 14, 1938. Through these towers flows the water which operates the huge generators in the powerhouse below the 727-foot dam. On the shores of the 110-mile long lake impounded, the government has established the boulder dam recreational area. Luxurious accommodations are available at Boulder City. New a regular airline stop. (AP Photo)
English: Tourists gather around one of the generators in the Nevada wing of the powerhouse of Boulder Dam (later Hoover Dam) to hear its operation explained.
Hoover Dam at Dusk, Sept. 20, 1950. (AP Photo)
This July 18, 2014 photo shows generators inside the Hoover Dam, located on the Colorado River, on the border between Arizona and Nevada. It's considered one of America's great civil engineering wonders. Located about a half-hour from Las Vegas, it's a top destination for visitors to the region. (AP Photo/John Marshall)
In this July 28, 2014 photo, lightning strikes over Lake Mead near Hoover Dam at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Arizona. On the left are the Arizona intake towers of Hoover Dam. The bathtub ring of light minerals shows the high water mark of the reservoir which has shrunk to its lowest point since it was first filled in the 1930s. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Low water levels in the Lake Mead reservoir and at the Hoover Dam show a "bath tub ring" on October 14, 2015. Water in the lake has continued to drop. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
A boater gets an up-close view the "bathtub ring" that is visible at low water levels and is the result of the deposition of minerals on previously submerged surfaces while touring the front of Hoover Dam, which sits on the border of Nevada and Arizona, at Lake Mead, Nevada, June 28, 2021.
The intake towers that feed Hoover Dam’s power generators are almost fully exposed as the Lake Mead water level continues to decline in June, 2022.
