LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The federal government released a 1,600-page Final Environmental Impact Statement Friday that will govern Colorado River water operations for the next several decades beginning in 2027. The plan calls for 1.5 million acre-feet in cuts to water use across Nevada, Arizona, and California.
What the plan requires
The document, known as the FEIS, sets the legal framework for river operations and identifies 950 feet above sea level as the “minimum power pool” — the elevation at which Hoover Dam would stop generating electricity entirely. Below that level, turbine generation ceases and all downstream releases would be forced through outlet works, regardless of policy preferences.
Researchers at the Desert Research Institute say the river is under pressure from what they call “atmospheric thirst.” Dr. Sean McKenna said a warmer atmosphere is pulling moisture away before it ever reaches the river.
“One of those changes that we have looked at here at DRI is what we refer to as atmospheric thirst,” McKenna said. “So you can think about a warmer atmosphere. Warmer atmosphere is able to hold more water. And water that falls as precipitation on the land is not necessarily making it into the rivers the way it used to. More of that is being pulled up into the atmosphere and evaporated.”
McKenna said the basin recorded its lowest snowpack levels in at least 40 years. On April 1, the basin held just four inches of snow water equivalent — compared to a normal of 14 inches.
“We just survived or went through the lowest SWE records in the last 40 years, and maybe even beyond,” McKenna said. “I can only see back 40 years.”
Nevada’s response
Gov. Joe Lombardo said he will oppose any outcome that harms the state. In a written statement, Lombardo said: “If carried forward, the plan outlined in the FEIS could have devastating economic and environmental impacts on Nevada. Nevada has put forward reasonable compromise proposals to the other states, and I will fight against any outcome that imposes unreasonable impacts to our communities and those living in them.”
The Southern Nevada Water Authority echoed that position.
“And that is why we are absolutely aligned with Governor Lombardo and his statement that we will fight to defend our community’s water resources from that point going forward,” SNWA spokesperson Bronson Mack said. “We want to ensure water supplies for Southern Nevadans.”
Where Nevada stands
Nevada’s allocation will drop from 300,000 acre-feet to 250,000 under the plan. The state used 198,000 acre-feet last year, leaving roughly 100,000 acre-feet unused — a buffer Mack said will carry the state through the required reductions.
“Last year, we used 198,000 acre-feet,” Mack said. “So what that means is we have about 100,000 acre-feet of unused water. We’re going to be able to manage these reductions over the next couple of years. In fact, we’ll still have unused water on the Colorado River, about 60,000 acre-feet or so.”
The Bureau of Reclamation will reassess the plan every two years. The 1.5 million acre-feet in required cuts is enough to supply approximately three million average homes for one year.
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