Environmental and Natural Resources

The Law of the Colorado River: An Opportunity for Change

The Department of Interior announced on Monday, May 22, 2023 an agreement with the Lower Basin states to conserve 3 million acre-feet (“MAF”) of water in Lake Mead for the next four years, with 2.3 MAF paid for with funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. The balance of 700,000 acre-feet will need to be conserved […]

May 23, 2023 | 10 min read | Tagged: Arizona, Bureau of Reclamation, California, Climate Change, Drought, Drought Contingency Plan, Interim Guidelines, Nevada

Fred Breedlove Counsel

John D. Burnside Counsel

John Habib Associate

L. William Staudenmaier Partner

Colorado River News is a Mixed Bag: Heavy Snowmelt Can’t Prevent “Tier Zero” Shortage

by Fred Breedlove Every year, Colorado River water users anxiously wait for the results of the Bureau of Reclamation’s (“BOR”) August 24-Month Study Report. While the report is updated and published monthly, the August report is particularly significant because it sets the operational tier level for coordinated operation of Lakes Mead and Powell for the […]

August 22, 2019 | 5 min read | Tagged: BLM, Brenda Burman, Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado River, DCP, Drought Contingency Plan, Interim Guidelines

Fred Breedlove Counsel