States Prepare to Reduce Use of Colorado River Water
2022-09-23
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1The Colorado River supplies water for several states in the Southwest U.S. including Southern California.
2But more than 20 years of dry conditions and sharp population growth is forcing changes.
3States using the river must renegotiate a 100-year-old agreement, the Colorado River Compact.
4This agreement determines how much water different areas within each state get to use.
5When the Compact was first signed in the 1920s, the climate in the area was different.
6Because of this, the people who created the Compact incorrectly estimated how much water people would use.
7Now, the demand for water is greater than the supply from the river.
8Two reservoirs are important parts of the water supply for the states of California, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming and New Mexico.
9The reservoirs are called Lake Mead and Lake Powell.
10In 2000, both reservoirs were about 95 percent full.
11But now, they are only about 27 percent full.
12The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency that supervises the use of water in many areas, including the Colorado River area.
13The Commissioner for the Bureau of Reclamation, Camille Touton, told a committee in the U.S. Senate that water use would need to be cut next year.
14She also told the states that are part of the Colorado River Basin to offer plans by August for how much water they would cut next year.
15Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming submitted plans.
16California, Nevada and Arizona have not.
17The Bureau can decide by itself how much to cut, but it is giving the states more time to complete their plans.
18The Bureau wants the states to reduce their water use by 15 to 30 percent.
19Also, 14 Native American tribes sent a letter to the Bureau expressing worry.
20They said they were not included in the negotiations about how much water each area gets.
21Native American tribes were also not included when the Compact was first signed in 1922.
22It is estimated that around 70 to 80 percent of the river's water is used for farming.
23California uses much of its allotment of water for farming and for an area in southern California which is home to about one-half of the state's 39 million people.
24California has the largest population of any U.S. state.
25California also leads the U.S. in sales of food from farming.
26It sells its fruits, vegetables, and animal products to every part of the U.S.
27Because of a series of court cases, laws, and agreements, Arizona and Nevada, two states which border California, must cut their use of water before California does.
28Without Colorado River water, Southern California, including the city of Los Angeles, would lose about one-third of its water supply.
29In addition, a large farming area in southeastern California called the Imperial Irrigation District would become dry.
30Areas that use the Colorado water are trying to reduce how much they use.
31The city of Las Vegas, Nevada has banned grass in many areas, such as grass lawns in front of office buildings.
32However, single-family homes may keep their lawns.
33The Southern Nevada Water Agency has even paid homeowners to remove their grass lawns.
34The city of San Diego, in Southern California, has built a large plant that turns seawater into drinking water.
35Other methods to reduce the use of water include using dirty water, called wastewater, for landscaping.
36And the Metropolitan Water District in Southern California limited outdoor water use this summer to one day a week.
37The U.S. Congress has approved $4 billion for projects related to the Colorado River.
38California state officials might use some of that money to pay farmers to use less water.
39I'm Andrew Smith.
1The Colorado River supplies water for several states in the Southwest U.S. including Southern California. 2But more than 20 years of dry conditions and sharp population growth is forcing changes. States using the river must renegotiate a 100-year-old agreement, the Colorado River Compact. This agreement determines how much water different areas within each state get to use. 3When the Compact was first signed in the 1920s, the climate in the area was different. Because of this, the people who created the Compact incorrectly estimated how much water people would use. Now, the demand for water is greater than the supply from the river. 4Two reservoirs are important parts of the water supply for the states of California, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming and New Mexico. The reservoirs are called Lake Mead and Lake Powell. 5In 2000, both reservoirs were about 95 percent full. But now, they are only about 27 percent full. 6The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency that supervises the use of water in many areas, including the Colorado River area. 7The Commissioner for the Bureau of Reclamation, Camille Touton, told a committee in the U.S. Senate that water use would need to be cut next year. 8She also told the states that are part of the Colorado River Basin to offer plans by August for how much water they would cut next year. Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming submitted plans. California, Nevada and Arizona have not. 9The Bureau can decide by itself how much to cut, but it is giving the states more time to complete their plans. The Bureau wants the states to reduce their water use by 15 to 30 percent. 10Also, 14 Native American tribes sent a letter to the Bureau expressing worry. They said they were not included in the negotiations about how much water each area gets. Native American tribes were also not included when the Compact was first signed in 1922. 11Farming uses most water 12It is estimated that around 70 to 80 percent of the river's water is used for farming. California uses much of its allotment of water for farming and for an area in southern California which is home to about one-half of the state's 39 million people. California has the largest population of any U.S. state. 13California also leads the U.S. in sales of food from farming. It sells its fruits, vegetables, and animal products to every part of the U.S. 14Because of a series of court cases, laws, and agreements, Arizona and Nevada, two states which border California, must cut their use of water before California does. 15Without Colorado River water, Southern California, including the city of Los Angeles, would lose about one-third of its water supply. In addition, a large farming area in southeastern California called the Imperial Irrigation District would become dry. 16Areas that use the Colorado water are trying to reduce how much they use. The city of Las Vegas, Nevada has banned grass in many areas, such as grass lawns in front of office buildings. However, single-family homes may keep their lawns. 17The Southern Nevada Water Agency has even paid homeowners to remove their grass lawns. 18The city of San Diego, in Southern California, has built a large plant that turns seawater into drinking water. Other methods to reduce the use of water include using dirty water, called wastewater, for landscaping. And the Metropolitan Water District in Southern California limited outdoor water use this summer to one day a week. 19The U.S. Congress has approved $4 billion for projects related to the Colorado River. California state officials might use some of that money to pay farmers to use less water. 20I'm Andrew Smith. 21This story was adapted by Andrew Smith for VOA Learning English. It was adapted from stories for the Associated Press by Kathleen Ronayne, Chris Outcalt, and Brittany Peterson. 22____________________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24negotiate -v. to make, or try to make, an agreement, often for a treaty between governments, or for a business agreement 25determine -v. to decide, control, or affect the result 26reservoir -n. a large area built or formed to contain water, such as behind a dam 27allotment -n. a portion or part of a total to be shared -for example, an allotment of land, an allotment of money, of water, and the like 28lawn -n. an area grass near a house or building 29landscaping -n. the design of the area outside a building or home, such as a garden, a lawn, or a mixture of trees and small plants 30____________________________________________________________________ 31We want to hear from you. 32We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 33Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.