Bureau Funding Aids Colorado River’s Present, Future Flow
TL/DR –
The Colorado River, which provides water to nearly 40 million people, has been significantly depleted due to drier conditions and decades of overuse. Long-term strategies are needed and the Bureau of Reclamation is now focusing its funding on projects that restore ecosystems, habitats, and other environmental benefits for communities impacted by ongoing droughts, wildfires, and flooding. Examples of such projects include the Helper Revitalization Project in Utah, the improvement of water levels for endangered fish in the 15-Mile Reach of the river, and the Forests to Faucets program which focuses on areas where severe wildfires would impact water supplies.
The Colorado River: Water Policies and Future Sustainability
The Colorado River, stretching 1,450 miles from Rocky Mountain National Park to Mexico, supplies water to nearly 40 million people across seven states, 30 Tribal nations, and Mexico. However, decades of overuse partnered with increasingly arid conditions have severely drained the river, causing it to never reach its former endpoint, the Gulf of California.
Current water policies only manage to sustain the river just enough to prevent total collapse. It is evident that we need long-term strategies to ensure the river’s longevity. The Bureau of Reclamation is now focusing its next round of Colorado River Basin funding on projects that aid the restoration of critical ecosystems and habitats, and provide assorted environmental benefits for communities. This shift in focus is a direct response to the many communities suffering due to continuous drought, wildfires, and floods, advocating for a more holistic, nature-centered approach to water conservation.
Commendable Leadership and Future Plans
Commissioner Camille Touton’s leadership has ensured that funds for drought mitigation are allocated to benefit communities and watersheds within the Colorado River Basin. This funding, allocated under the Inflation Reduction Act, allows public entities and Tribes in the Upper Colorado River Basin to apply for project funding until October 14, 2024. The final funding allocations will be announced in spring 2025.
Improving River Flows and Local Economy
Helper City, a historic Utah rail and mining town transitioning to focusing on outdoor recreation, is a prime example of how river restoration can improve local economies. For a decade, efforts have been made to improve river flows on the Price River, work that culminated in the removal of the Gigliotti Dam. The Helper Revitalization Project, a combined effort of local, state, and federal partners, has reopened the river for boating and improved fish habitats, thereby boosting the city’s outdoor recreation economy.
Increasing River Health and Supporting Endangered Fish
The 15-Mile Reach, a section of the Colorado River east of Grand Junction, struggles to support four endangered fish species due to high supply demands. Groups including the Colorado Water Trust, Grand Valley Water Users Association, and Orchard Mesa Irrigation District are working together to boost water levels during critical times of the year, which has seen nearly 10,000 acre-feet of water returned to the Colorado River since 2020.
Reducing Wildfire Damage
Catastrophic wildfires, fueled by climate change and unnatural overgrowth due to past management practices, can cause extensive damage to entire communities and the environment. The Forests to Faucets program, a collaborative effort between Denver Water, the U.S. Forest Service, the Colorado State Forest Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, focuses on forested areas at high risk of severe wildfire impact. Since 2010, this program has treated more than 120,000 acres by planting trees and thinning overly dense forests.
Protecting the Colorado River
For the sake of all communities that rely on the Colorado River, any plan to safeguard these communities must start with protecting the river itself. This means ensuring enough water remains in the river to keep it flowing. The Bureau of Reclamation is taking a critical step forward towards this goal, working together to ensure that the Colorado River continues to provide for future generations.
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