Metropolitan Water District General Manager Shivaji Deshmukh issues the following statement regarding the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s release today of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for post-2026 operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead.

“The release of today’s Draft EIS is yet another wake-up call that we need a consensus agreement supported by all water users that rely on the Colorado River. None of the five alternatives analyzed by the Bureau of Reclamation are endorsed by any of the Basin States. The various alternatives highlight the significant risks we could face if we don’t reach an agreement. And implementation of any alternatives would likely lead to lengthy litigation.

“Several of the alternatives are particularly alarming for Metropolitan, indicating potentially dramatic cuts to our supply. While the people and communities we serve are committed to reducing their use through conservation and investments in new supplies, our Colorado River supply cannot be randomly slashed. Our people, our economy, our state depend on this river – half of the 40 million people who rely on this critical water source live in Southern California. That is why we are so committed to forging a path to sustainability that all states can support.

“The Draft EIS serves an important role, analyzing a range of possibilities for future operations, but we can do better. We must do better.”

Learn more about Metropolitan and the Colorado River here.

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