By Mike Sunnucks | Rose Law Group Reporter (Image by USA-Reiseblogger)
The Phoenix City Council will get an update on the Colorado River Basin water supplies and drought conditions at a policy session on Tuesday, June 8.
“The entire Colorado River Basin, including Arizona and six other states, has been in a state of drought for over 20 years. Hot and dry conditions, combined with a lack of precipitation and effective snowpack runoff, have reduced the two main reservoirs in the region, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, to near-historic low levels,” according to city briefing documents.
“In August 2021, the United States Department of the Interior is expected to declare the first Tier 1 shortage in the Lower Basin of the Colorado River for 2022. In accordance with the Drought Contingency Plan adopted by the state in 2019, this declaration will result in a 512,000 acre-foot reduction of Colorado River supplies delivered to Central Arizona water users, or 18% of the total Arizona supply,” the city summary of the issue continues.
The council will be briefed by state and local water officials about the impacts on the region and city.
