By Ariana Brocious | Arizona Public Media
Arizona’s water supply from the Colorado River will remain consistent into next year. That’s good news in the eyes of state water managers.
Under the drought contingency plan hammered out by Colorado River Basin states last year, Arizona agreed to voluntarily reduce its water use by 192,000 acre-feet, or about 7%, leaving that water in Lake Mead to help reduce the likelihood of greater cutbacks down the road. Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, says data from a new Bureau of Reclamation report show that plan is working.
“What the 24-month study shows to me, among other things, is that the drought contingency plan is a success. We are doing what we hoped to do,” Buschatzke said.
