The Colorado River Compact’s 100th Anniversary: Time to Renegotiate
November 10, 2022
Image credit: "Horeshoe Bend" by Paul Hermans is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Colorado River with the water line visible. Photo by Wesley Tingey
The 100th anniversary of the signing of the Colorado River Compact has received considerable national attention, and not just because it’s been around for a century. The Compact, which set the terms for how to divide the river’s waters among seven western states and Mexico, is broadly recognized as a deeply flawed document that has contributed to the dire state of the river today. And while updating the Compact may prove to be extremely complicated both politically and hydrologically, experts agree that a fundamental reset will be required to save the river – and the ecosystems that depend on it – from collapse.
Perhaps the most significant flaw in the Compact goes back to the timing during which it was developed. Scientists now know that the water allocations it established for each participating stakeholder were based on wildly optimistic flows. One hundred years ago, the Colorado River Basin was going through a particularly wet period; today, the watershed is experiencing the very same mega-drought that is plaguing much of the West. For years, the water allocations specified in the Compact have exceeded the amount of water available in the river.
The second fundamental flaw in the Compact also comes down to timing. A century ago, U.S. policymakers thought nothing of having a group of white male landowners negotiate a way to divide a natural resource like a mighty river to meet the needs of their constituents. But the flaws in that approach should be much more apparent to all Americans in 2022, and there should be widespread recognition that the Compact unfairly privileges some water users while completely leaving out others. For example, Tribal groups have no dedicated water rights under the Colorado River Compact, despite their presence along the river since time immemorial.
The details of the Colorado River Compact itself and what needs to be done to fix it are far too complex to cover in a blog post. To learn more about the history of this document and opportunities for how to improve the agreement for the decade to come, check out this new book edited by Jason A. Robinson: Cornerstone at the Confluence: Navigating the Colorado River Compact’s Next Century.
“It worked for the 20th century.
It will not work for the 21st century.
It needs to be revised thoughtfully and carefully.
The sooner, the better.”
- John Weisheit, co-founder of Living Rivers.
The Colorado River and Southern California
As explained succinctly in this helpful summary from the Public Policy Institute of California, “the Colorado River is a major source of water for California.” Southern California cities and farms rely heavily on water imports from the river for residential and commercial uses as well as for irrigation. Just like water that is piped into Los Angeles via the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and directly from the Owens River Valley in the Sierras, Colorado River water keeps our lawns green and showers flowing.
So what does that mean for Angelenos? The best thing any of us can do to benefit the Colorado River ecosystem is the same thing we can do for the future water security of our region: learn to live with less water and continue to promote a more integrated approach to water management in LA. The good news is that the Los Angeles area is already making strides in that direction, in recognition of the extended drought that’s unlikely to end this year and perhaps not for years to come.
In the 1970s, the City of Los Angeles had approximately 3 million fewer residents but consumed much more water than it does today. Water usage in Los Angeles in 2020 was below the average water usage five decades ago and saw a 29% reduction between 2003-2020. Through conservation programs and water use efficiency measures, LA is inching its way toward water independence. While lowering our water use will not bring back our snowpack, it can relieve pressure on our dwindling water sources.
LACSD Water Recycling Facility. Photo courtesy of LACSD.
Further development of and investment in resilient local water supplies will be critical to reduce our dependence on the Colorado River and other imported water. Many SoCal communities are already doing their part with plans for large-scale wastewater recycling projects, including MWD’s Pure Water Southern California. This project will not only reclaim up to 150 million gallons of wastewater each day by 2035 for Angelenos, it has also opened the door for greater collaboration among other western states that also depend on Colorado River water. The Southern Nevada Water Authority, Arizona Department of Water Resources, and Central Arizona Project have all contributed to the Pure Water Southern California project in acknowledgement of this shared water source. This more integrated partnership is a great example of how we must operate more holistically and with a transformational approach when thinking of how to equitably manage the West’s water future. Every drop of water that's not used is a drop that does not need to be imported from our dwindling supply sources; a drop that doesn't have embedded energy and costs from water pumping, treatment, and heating; and (for outdoor use) a drop that won't contribute to the nearly 100 million gallons a day of contaminated runoff that makes this the #1source of pollution to our local waterways.
Individual Actions Add Up
Replacing your lawn with drought-resistant landscaping is one of the most effective water-saving moves a homeowner can make.
Angelenos are clearly already doing their part to help address our ongoing water crisis. Whether it's by installing high-efficiency toilets, shopping sustainably, or making behavioral changes like cutting back on shower time, individual actions make a difference. Here are a few more ways each of us can reduce daily water use, courtesy of Everyday Eco-Habits and LA County Waterworks District:
Replace your turf or grass with a water-friendly garden with drought-tolerant plants. Not only will it be less of a hassle, but it also provides a myriad of other benefits, including reduced urban runoff pollution and creating wildlife habitat.
Calculate your water footprint.
If it's yellow, let it mellow. Don't immediately flush your pee.
Go 'Dirty for the Drought,' and hold off on washing your car. When you're ready, take it to a car wash that recycles its water.
When possible, shop sustainably. Fast fashion contributes to water pollution and wastewater.
Don't be a grasshole! Water plants early in the morning or at night, and no more than once a week.
Use a broom to sweep down your driveway or porch instead of hosing it down.
Have a pool or spa? Cover it to reduce evaporation and save energy.
Install water-efficient equipment throughout your home like water-efficient showerheads, and toilets.
For help and inspiration in shrinking your water footprint, consider joining the growing number of LA County residents who are tracking their conservation actions through the Dashboard.Earth app, where you can enter to win prizes for completing many of the water-saving actions listed above. Want to learn more about what’s involved and how it can help you save water? Check out the Take Action page of our website.