Water providers from four western states and the federal government announced an $11 million agreement Thursday to fund projects meant to counteract critically low water levels in the Colorado River basin, which supplies water to about 40 million people in seven states, AP reports.
The Interior Department said Thursday that local water providers in Arizona, California, Nevada and Colorado will take part in the deal.
It aims to create several small pilot programs in 2015 and 2016 that would provide incentives and compensation for conservation by cities, farmers and industry, according to a statement announcing the agreement. The programs that work best can then be expanded, extended, or both.
Statement by Ryan Hurley, Senior Partner and water attornyer at Rose Law Group:
“As our limited water resources meet our increased demand, it is imperative that we find smart and effective incentives for users to conserve this precious resource. Anyone that has interest in these new programs should seek to participate and help manage the long-term drought .”
