A
Sustainable
River
For decades, management of the Colorado River has largely operated as a demand-based system. In other words, the system has been managed to maximize water uses. While seemingly intuitive, this demand-driven model faces critical limitations in the face of a changing climate: we cannot use more water than the Colorado River provides.
The Problem with
Demand-Based
Operations
The fundamental flaw of a demand-based system lies in its assumption of consistent and sufficient water supply. This assumption is increasingly challenged by climate change impacts, uses that exceed Compact apportionments, reactive management at Lake Powell and Lake Mead, and community resistance to changes in their water uses.
The Solution:
Embrace Supply-Based
Operations
A more sustainable future for the Colorado River requires a fundamental shift towards supply-based operations. This paradigm prioritizes managing water resources based on the actual, available water supply within the Basin.
★ Solution: Living Within the River’s Means
Supply-based management acknowledges the natural variability of the Colorado River and adjusts operations to respond to water supplies. This means recognizing that in drier years, less water will be available for use across all sectors.
★ Solution: Responsibility to Respond to Supply
This model necessitates a shared understanding among all water users that in times of scarcity, reductions in water use will be necessary across all sectors.
★ Solution: Increased Water Use Efficiency and Conservation
Recognizing the constraints of supply inherently encourages and incentivizes greater water use efficiency and conservation measures in agriculture, municipalities, and industry.
Transitioning to a supply-based operational framework for the Colorado River is not a simple task.
By shifting from a demand-driven to a supply-driven approach, the Colorado River Basin can move towards a more sustainable future; one that acknowledges the natural limits of this vital resource and ensures its long-term health and availability for generations to come.