DENVER — American Rivers and Western Resource Advocates (WRA) issued a report identifying five cost-effective solutions that may eliminate water shortages stemming from the Colorado River, according to a press release.
If implemented at a larger scale across the basin, the reported solutions could meet the water needs of the western U.S.’s agriculture, businesses and growing population through the year 2060, stated the release.
The report, “The Hardest Working River in the West: Common-Sense Solutions for a Reliable Water Future for the Colorado River Basin,” suggests these five critical steps for solving current and future water shortages: Municipal conservation — saving one million acre-feet of water, municipal reuse — saving 1.2 million acre-feet, agricultural efficiency and water banking — saving one million acre-feet, renewable energy and energy efficiency — saving 160,000 acre-feet, and innovating water opportunities — generating up to 1.1 million acre-feet, continued the release.
This report estimates that 4.4 million acre-feet of water could be saved and made available for other uses if the suggested methods are carried out through the basin, noted the release.
“The fact is, there is a lot of concern about the Colorado River right now,” said WRA Water Program Director Bart Miller. “[But] these solutions will work and help everyone — from agriculture to growing cities — have plenty of water now and in the future. It’s time for our western leaders to draft these all-star solutions and put them to work.”
Read the entire release here.
