The 9th annual Upper Colorado River Basin Water Forum was held on November 13-14 at the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) in Grand Junction, CO. This year’s theme was “Tools for Adaptation.” The two-day conference consistently provides an outstanding overview of the multidisciplinary issues concerning conflicting interests in the region. Some of the diverse presenters and attendees (like students, professionals, and retirees) discussed topics including agriculture, energy, engineering, fishing, forests, law, management, parks, policy, politics, recreation, science, timber, tribal rights, and urban demands.

The general theme seemed to be that the upper basin states of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico are not using their full share of water as determined by the 1922 compact while the lower basin states of Arizona, California, and Nevada are using too much of their allotment. Overall, the Colorado River provides water to over 40 million people as well as food (or animal feed) to much of the United States and abroad. There is a treaty with Mexico to provide water as well as numerous tribal nations have made water rights settlements. The system of prior appropriation means who legally applied first gets the senior rights which includes California, many urban systems, and agriculture. The junior rights went to Arizona, tribes, and environmental uses. This is becoming really bad news to the four million people in the Phoenix area who will struggle to find adequate replacement for their water supply, as well as tribal people who are unable to build and use available supplies, and wildlife depending on adequate stream flow.

The river system has been overallocated, meaning more people claim rights to water than is available, creating more demand for groundwater especially during severe droughts. Supreme Court cases have been fought over state water rights and the 7 state compact agreement will need to be renegotiated or face federal intervention to preserve required lake levels for hydroelectric power generation. Some speakers described using the courts to resolve issues as high-stakes gambling. Ironically, to fund the Colorado Water Plan voters approved sports betting! Please see my original comments on the CWP submitted over four years ago.

To reach beyond conflicts, many presenters demonstrated positive results by creating collaborative partnerships. I’m most impressed with non-profit efforts by The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, and the Colorado Water Trust. Here is a link to the abstracts with biographies of the speakers.

So for some more highlights, here are a few essential notes:

• The US Geological Survey in 1916 got the science correct to forecast limited water supplies but the US Bureau of Reclamation’s incorrect oversupply predictions were used in the 1922 Compact with 7 states

• The two dammed reservoirs (Powell and Mead) account for loss due to evaporation of 1,000,000 acre-feet which is about 6% of the total supply

• Municipal water suppliers and industries are increasing efficient uses of water

• Tribal advocates for spiritual nature of water essential for sustainability over commodity mentality

• Northwestern New Mexico is building $1.1 billion dollar water supply for Navajo Nation and other tribes

• Southeastern New Mexico boom in shale gas uses 60,000 acre-feet of fresh water yet produces 100,000 acre-feet of waste brine solutions so new applications for water rights by industry are being put on hold with the new Governor over the past year

• Closing coal-fired power plants affects tribal incomes that will need compensation

• Population growth is largest in southwestern U.S. which cannot support resource demands

• Industry wants water banking and new aquifer storage and recovery systems

• Over use of surface water - groundwater causing ground subsidence in many areas

• Alternative Transfer Mechanisms are an alternative to “buy and dry” when housing developments are build on ranches to negotiate deals with multiple stakeholders

• Excessive outdoor water users need more utility and community enforcement

• Direct potable reuse is being adopted in several states to recycle water supplies

• Two book authors gave terrific keynote presentations: Eric Kuhn and Zak Podmore

• Colorado River water gets reused 17 times as it flows downstream

• A politician claims grazing is good for forests

• A US Geological Survey scientist states grazing causes 50% increase in sedimentation and that soil crusts are easily damaged and hard to restore

• River water supply forecasting is done by 15 federal centers including CBRFC

• The National Water Model v. 2 needs upgrading by federal agencies with support from big tech companies

• The National Water Map is one related product by USGS

• Training is available with the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies

• There is an ag water conference in Loveland, CO on December 2-3

• Augmented stream flow and management plans can keep rivers flowing

I’m grateful to the organizers and participants for this great educational forum!