Drought is Back in Colorado River Basin, Raising Concerns about Supply Reliability
Drought conditions have returned to the Colorado River Basin, a critical component of Southern California’s water supply.
According to the “State of the Climate, Drought May 2012” report on the National Climate Data Center website, “moderate to extreme” drought is now spreading into the Southwest. Low snowfall in the Rocky Mountains has led to worrying conditions on the Colorado River’s reservoirs. The report’s forecasts of Colorado River inflow into Lake Powell have dropped very far, and now rank among the third or fourth lowest in the past century.
The dry year follows a one-year respite in drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin. Prior to last year’s wet rainy season, the Basin had experienced ten straight years of drought.
Typically, 80 percent of South Orange County water supply comes from the Colorado River. The Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) is currently delivering nearly 100 percent Colorado River water to its customers. SMWD is the lead agency for the environmental review of the Cadiz Valley Water Conservation, Storage and Recovery Project.
“The return of drought conditions is troubling, but it’s just one part of the Colorado River story,” said Scott Slater, president of Cadiz, Inc. “Arizona, Nevada and Mexico are all asserting their rights to the river’s water, which means Southern California water resource managers must plan for less water coming to the region from the Colorado River.”
The Cadiz project would use excess capacity in the Colorado River Aqueduct to transport water from a massive Mojave Desert aquifer to Southern California. Currently five Southern California water agencies have signed on to the program, which would provide enough water for 100,000 Southern California households’ annual water needs.
About Cadiz Inc.
Founded in 1983, Cadiz Inc. is a publicly-held renewable resources company that owns 70 square miles of property with significant water resources and clean energy potential in eastern San Bernardino County, California. The Company is engaged in a combination of water supply and storage and organic farming projects. In 2009 Cadiz adopted a wide-ranging “Green Compact” to implement environmental conservation and sustainable management practices at its properties.
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