Colorado River Hydrology and Basin Water Supply & Demand Study Update June 11, Tina Anderholt Shields, PE Colorado River Resources Manager

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1 Colorado River Hydrology and Basin Water Supply & Demand Study Update June 11, 2013 Tina Anderholt Shields, PE Colorado River Resources Manager

2 Colorado River Basin Storage (as of June 10, 2013) Current Storage Percent Full MAF Elevation Lake Powell 48% , Lake Mead 48% , Total System Storage* 52% N/A *Total system storage was maf or 62% this time last year. 2

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6 Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study Study Objectives: Assess future water supply and demand imbalances over the next 50 years Develop and evaluate opportunities for resolving imbalances Study conducted by Reclamation and the Basin States, in collaboration with stakeholders throughout the Basin Began in January 2010 and completed in December 2012 A planning study did not result in any decisions, but provides the technical foundation for future activities 6 slide courtesy of Reclamation

7 Projected Future Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Average supply-demand imbalances by 2060 are approximately 3.2 million acre-feet This imbalance may be more or less depending on the nature of the particular supply and demand scenario Imbalances have occurred in the past and deliveries have been met due to reservoir storage 7 slide courtesy of Reclamation

8 Summary of Options Submitted Over 150 options were submitted to the Study All options received were included and are reflected in the Study Increased Supply: Reuse, desalination, importation, etc. Reduced Demand: M&I and agricultural conservation, etc. Modify Operations: Transfers & exchanges, water banking, etc. Governance & Implementation: Stakeholder committees, population control, re-allocation, etc. 8 slide courtesy of Reclamation

9 Agricultural Conservation Options 9 submitted options Classified into 6 conservation measures Advanced irrigation scheduling Deficit irrigation On-farm irrigation system improvements Controlled environment agriculture Conveyance system efficiency improvements Fallowing of irrigated lands Computed potential savings for Study Area and translated to potential Colorado River savings 2.44 MAF in study area; 1 MAF of savings to Colorado River 9 slide courtesy of Reclamation

10 Development of Representative Options: Agricultural Conservation TABLE F-6 Estimated Potential Water Savings at the Farm Scale for Each Agricultural Water Conservation Measure Water Conservation Measure Reduction in Consumptive Use (af) Reduction in Total Diversion (af) Advanced Irrigation Scheduling 0 270,000 Deficit Irrigation 100, ,000 On-Farm Irrigation System Improvements 0 490,000 Conveyance System Efficiency Improvements 0 820,000 Controlled Environment Agriculture 13,000 13,000 Irrigated Lands Fallowing 720, ,000 TOTAL 833,000 2,443,000 The implementation approaches considered are agricultural conservation with and without transfers, up to 1 MAF for each approach was evaluated (not additive). For some conservation measures and some regions, significant investment has already occurred, and the ability to achieve additional conservation will be limited or more costly; this includes IID s 0.45 million acres, which were removed from the estimates of future agricultural water conservation potential. 10 slide courtesy of Reclamation

11 Summary, Findings and Next Steps The Study took a broad Basin-wide approach to determine agricultural conservation potential and implementation of that conservation, which does not reflect the regional and local differences in conservation potential. Conservation options were included in all portfolios, and implemented frequently indicating that based on Study assumptions, they are a potential, cost-effective solution for resolving imbalances in the near-term. Phase I of the recent Moving Forward kickoff event will build upon the Basin Study. Three working groups have been established to focus on 1) M&I Conservation/Reuse, 2) Agricultural Conservation and Water Transfers and 3) Healthy Flows. For the agricultural workgroup, this will involve a data collection effort to quantify existing and planned conservation programs and transfers, document successes and challenges, and estimate conservation savings and/or potential. Study website: 11 slide in part courtesy of Reclamation