Future Water Resources Development In The Lower Colorado River Basin

On plans of Department of Interior.

Recent studies of past climate and streamflow conditions have broadened understanding of long-term water availability in the Colorado River, revealing many periods when streamflow was lower than at any time in the past 100 years of recorded flows. That information, along with two important trends-a rapid increase in urban populations in the West and significant climate warming in the region-will require that water managers prepare for possible reductions in water supplies that cannot be fully averted through traditional means. Colorado River Basin Water Management assesses existing scientific information, including temperature and streamflow records, tree-ring based reconstructions, and climate model projections, and how it relates to Colorado River water supplies and demands, water management, and drought preparedness. The book concludes that successful adjustments to new conditions will entail strong and sustained cooperation among the seven Colorado River basin states and recommends conducting a comprehensive basinwide study of urban water practices that can be used to help improve planning for future droughts and water shortages.

Recent studies of past climate and streamflow conditions have broadened understanding of long-term water availability in the Colorado River, revealing many periods when streamflow was lower than at any time in the past 100 years of recorded flows. That information, along with two important trends-a rapid increase in urban populations in the West and significant climate warming in the region-will require that water managers prepare for possible reductions in water supplies that cannot be fully averted through traditional means. Colorado River Basin Water Management assesses existing scientific information, including temperature and streamflow records, tree-ring based reconstructions, and climate model projections, and how it relates to Colorado River water supplies and demands, water management, and drought preparedness. The book concludes that successful adjustments to new conditions will entail strong and sustained cooperation among the seven Colorado River basin states and recommends conducting a comprehensive basinwide study of urban water practices that can be used to help improve planning for future droughts and water shortages.

"This report presents the results of comprehensive investigations of water and related land resources of the Lower Colorado Region. It provides appraisals of natural resources and their geographic distribution, projections of future requirements, associated problems and needs, and presents a framework program for the development and management of the water and related land resources of the Region to the year 2020, with intermediate objectives to the years 1980 and 2000. A schedule of implementation is presented, together with a general estimate of costs, for the program"--Page vii.

Twenty-two contributing scientists, intensive coverage includes "Historical Perspectives"--physical setting, water development, politics of water allocation, economic development in the Basin, policy goals and values, and "Future Directions"--water quality problems, energy resources development, conservation and preservation of aesthetic values, agriculture and grazing, community development, recreation, Indian lands and culture, international problems, carrying capacity and environmental indices, formulation of management policy.