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Water Deal Saves Lake Mead, Hoover Dam Power
15 Jul
Summary
- Federal government pays up to $65 million for water conservation.
- Agreement aims to slow Lake Mead's decline and protect hydropower.
- Deal secures vital water and electricity for millions in the Southwest.
In a significant move to stabilize the Colorado River system, the federal government will pay the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California up to $65 million. This payment is for water that the district will keep in Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoir. The agreement, approved by Metropolitan's board on Tuesday, is designed to slow the reservoir's dangerous decline.
Under the terms, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will compensate Metropolitan $325 per acre-foot for water left in Lake Mead, up to 200,000 acre-feet in 2026. This conservation effort is crucial for protecting hydropower generation at Hoover Dam, which risks a 70 percent reduction if the reservoir falls too low. The funding stems from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
Metropolitan's efforts are supported by decades of investments in water conservation, recycling, and groundwater recovery, totaling $1.7 billion since 1990. The district also approved related agreements with the Quechan Tribe and Bard Water District to conserve agricultural water. These actions come as Lake Mead faces unprecedented pressure from drought and low runoff, with system storage at only 36 percent of capacity.
