OPINION: ‘Save The Colorado’ Supports the Lower Basin in the Colorado River Brawl

Yesterday, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) released its long-awaited Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the “Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead” which includes four “action alternatives” from which Reclamation can choose moving forward.

Importantly, Save The Colorado contends that Reclamation has completely misinterpreted the original and overriding 1922 Colorado River Compact (often called the “Law of the River”) which clearly states that the Lower Basin has the senior right and that the Upper Basin must send adequate water downstream.

Further, the Law of the River was established before the federal government built its dams and infrastructure, and so there’s no requirement in the original Law to protect the government’s infrastructure, including and especially Glen Canyon Dam, which serves as the backbone of Reclamation’s four “action alternatives” in the DEIS.

We support the Lower Basin’s position that all four ‘action alternatives’ violate federal law and, if chosen, should trigger litigation. We are very interested in supporting the Lower Basin throughout that litigation process.

Further, sending water downstream to the Lower Basin protects the ecological health of the Grand Canyon ecosystem and the River itself, which aligns with Save the Colorado’s mission.

Save The Colorado is a program of Save The World’s Rivers.