Latest news with #U.S.BureauofReclamation
Axios
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
When conservationists chose Dinosaur National Monument over Glen Canyon
In the 1950s, conservationists rejoiced in their successful campaign to stop the federal government from flooding swaths of Dinosaur National Monument with a dam on the Green River. The intrigue: It turned out to be a pyrrhic victory — one that environmentalists would be ambivalent about for decades. This is Old News, our weekly float down the currents of Utah history. What drove the news: In the Saturday Evening Post 75 years ago this week, celebrated journalist Bernard DeVoto called the nation's attention to a plan to erect dams that would replace Dinosaur's wild Lodore and Whirlpool canyons with reservoirs. Behind the scenes: The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation quietly developed the plan over several years — without consulting the National Park Service, which manages the canyons. NPS officials were infuriated by their exclusion. Zoom out: If Congress were to allow construction in Dinosaur, it would shift the balance of priorities throughout the nation's protected lands, favoring growth and development over preservation, DeVoto cautioned. He cited similar canceled plans that would have flooded parts of Mammoth Cave, Glacier and Grand Canyon national parks — some of which had been repeatedly revived. "Even when controversies have been formally settled and projects abandoned apparently for good, the park system and the public trust is always under … threat," he warned. What happened: DeVoto's warnings worked; the so-called Echo Park and Split Canyon dams in Dinosaur became conservationists' cause célèbre and letters opposing the dams " poured into Washington" that summer, historian Glenn Sandiford wrote. Federal officials eventually called off the project. Why it mattered: By treating the dams as a point of national interest, DeVoto turned the campaign against them into the catalyzing force behind the modern conservation movement. That unity produced landmark policies like the 1964 Wilderness Act, Sandiford argued. Yes, but: DeVoto had argued the Bureau and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers won Utahns' support by falsely claiming that no other site could facilitate the hydropower and irrigation the region needed. It turned out another site was being considered — and because it wasn't part of the NPS, it got far less attention than Dinosaur did. Friction point: The Sierra Club — the driving force of the newly strengthened conservation movement — was focused on protecting existing parks and didn't initially raise much fuss over plans to build a dam in Glen Canyon. Its director, David Brower, even suggested making that dam taller to replace some of the water storage that was lost to the defeated Dinosaur dams. The bottom line: When conservationists turned their attention to Glen Canyon — a remote area that few outside the Four Corners region had seen — the dam there became widely considered one of the movement's biggest losses of the 20th century.
Global News
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Southern Albertans still feeling the effects of Montana's St. Mary Siphon failure
For over a century, a diversion plan in Montana has sent additional water flowing down the Milk River into Canada. However, in June of last year, a catastrophic structural failure at the St. Mary Siphon occurred, eventually halting flow downstream. While the primary use of the water is on the American side of the border, Canadians were still affected. 'During the diversion failure, our natural flow was only hovering around one cubic metre per second and it did hit zero flow in early June, which caused a cessation order for our irrigators on the Canadian side,' said Tim Romanow, executive director of the Milk River Watershed Council of Canada. Immediately following the failure, American crews began working to repair the St. Mary Siphon. They managed to complete their job well ahead of schedule, turning the taps on again on June 25. Story continues below advertisement In a news release the same day, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said the repair was crucial for farmers. 'Completing the St. Mary Siphon is the first step to restoring critical water supply to more than 110,000 acres of farmland and multiple municipalities across north-central Montana.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Romanow says the Milk River, which was nearly empty and dry, began seeing a significant boost in water near the town of Milk River, Alta., by Canada Day. Unfortunately, due to water-use agreements, Canadian farmers are still unable to use irrigation on their crops for the remainder of 2025. 'I always say it's Montana licence-plated water. This is Montana-only water that we see flowing past us. The way the boundary water treaty works, we're only entitled to 25 per cent of the natural flow of the Milk River,' he said. 'We're able to use less than 1/15th of the water that's flowing past us right now as that's what we're legally entitled to.' To add to the headache, repairs south of the border aren't totally complete yet, either. 'Right now, what we're seeing for the river flows will be sustaining until Aug. 15, at which time there will be a scheduled shutdown to allow for more construction on the Halls Coulee Siphon, which is part of the infrastructure in Montana as well,' said Romanow. Story continues below advertisement The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says the repairs are vital for the future of the entire canal system. 'The Halls Coulee replacement will build on the same modern design standards, further strengthening the reliability of the entire St. Mary Canal system for future generations.' While Romanow says this work is good and required to ensure sustainable flow next spring, he says there is still a lot more to do before confidence is fully restored. 'There are still three drop structures and over 20 miles of canals that need rehabilitation work before we feel like we've actually got long-term water security in this system.' While the St. Mary Siphon repairs evidently affected farmers, they weren't the only ones feeling the impact. 'A lot of the large body fish species were lost last year and some species like Western Silvery Minnow was a full loss of the spawn and they probably weren't going to be found,' said Romanow. He says, for better or worse, they've learned a lot about the ecosystem of the past year as wildlife has also had to deal with the sudden loss of water.
Newsweek
18-06-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Lake Mead's Water Projected to Hit Lowest Point on Record
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Lake Mead's water levels are projected to be the lowest in recorded history by 2027, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The lake, which was first filled in 1930, is already only 31 percent full after dropping to a low of 1,041.71 feet of water above sea level in July 2022. Its levels have risen since that low in 2022, but are expected to fall again to 1,041.06 feet as of May 2027. Why It Matters Lake Mead is the nation's largest reservoir and is part of the Colorado River Basin network which supplies water to seven U.S. states, 30 tribal nations, and also parts of Mexico. Approximately 25 million people, including residents of the major cities of Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, rely on water from Lake Mead. Millions also rely on the lake's ability to create electricity across Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada. What To Know Lake Mead's water levels are determined by a number of factors including natural conditions and demand. A major reason is climate change, as unpredictable weather patterns, hotter summers which not only dry out the lake but also increase demand for water, and more arid winters are leaving the basin empty. Now, despite a snowy past winter in Colorado, the basin is still struggling. Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, told 8NewsNow that the levels represent "the uncertainty we face year after year." A boat that was once submerged sits on cracked earth hundreds of feet from the shoreline of Lake Mead on May 10, 2022, near Boulder City, Nevada. A boat that was once submerged sits on cracked earth hundreds of feet from the shoreline of Lake Mead on May 10, 2022, near Boulder City, Nevada. John Locher, File/AP Photo Further Water Restrictions? The lessening levels mean that people in the states reliant on Lake Mead, predominantly, California, Nevada, and Arizona, may be put under water restrictions. These states are already under Tier 1 water restrictions, meaning people cannot use free-flowing hoses, must reduce hours for landscaping, and must have conservation plans in place. If the water levels continue to drop, they will be placed under Tier 2 restrictions, which could see the water allocations for each state being limited. Millions of people rely on this basin for water and electricity as President Donald Trump's administration has withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement again and has opened up the country for more fossil fuel drilling. Trump has signed several executive orders to revive fossil fuel production by declaring an "energy emergency," and the Environmental Protection Agency led by Lee Zeldin has worked to remove clean air standards. The Department of Government Efficiency also laid off several Lake Mead workers during its mass-firing drive. However, many of these employees have now been reinstated. Jennifer Shoulders, center, protesting the layoffs of National Park Service employees, at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area Visitor Center on March 1, 2025, near Boulder City, Nevada. Jennifer Shoulders, center, protesting the layoffs of National Park Service employees, at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area Visitor Center on March 1, 2025, near Boulder City, Nevada. Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP What People Are Saying Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, told media: "This report underscores the arid shifts we are seeing across the West and the uncertainty we face year after year. Much of the Upper Colorado River region had normal to above-average snowpacks this winter. But that is not translating to water for Lake Mead. Even in good years, we are seeing bad results." What Happens Next Lake workers are working to expand surrounding recreation areas, as lowering water levels has resulted in a change in where people can enjoy time at the lake. As temperatures rise in the region and little evident action to combat climate change, residents who rely on water from Lake Mead can expect to endure more restrictions on their water access.
Los Angeles Times
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
The West's Climate Mayors call for federal help as Colorado River flows decline
A group of mayors representing cities across the West is calling for the federal government and state leaders to rally around efforts to help the region address water scarcity as climate change takes a toll on the Colorado River and other vital water sources. The bipartisan group Climate Mayors outlined a series of proposals for the Trump administration and state governments in a document released this week, saying federal and state involvement and financial support will be essential as cities seek to advance solutions including new infrastructure and water-saving initiatives. 'The Colorado River was allocated in a much wetter time period than now,' said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, the current chair of Climate Mayors. 'Every part of the river system has been impacted by climate change, and so we need to talk about what's the best way to address those changes, and how to spread the impact most intelligently,' Gallego said in an interview. 'Our group of Western mayors thinks this really needs to be a local, state and federal priority.' The group urged the federal government to support additional funding for infrastructure projects, including efforts to recycle wastewater and capture stormwater locally, and to maintain funding for various federal water programs. The mayors noted that drought-related disasters are on the rise. The Colorado River's average flow has declined dramatically since 2000, and research has shown that human-caused climate change is a major contributor. 'This region is facing severe challenges with charting a new future and will need regional collaboration to move forward,' the group said in the document. 'Current water use levels and patterns across all sectors cannot be maintained in the face of increasing water scarcity due to climate change.' Nearly 350 mayors across the country are part of Climate Mayors. The policy proposals were developed by a Western regional group of mayors and their representatives, among them officials from Los Angeles, Culver City, Irvine and San Diego. The mayors called for the Interior Department and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to 'ensure sustainable management of the Colorado River system,' saying that ongoing negotiations on new rules for addressing shortages after 2026 'must be based on the concept of permanent and proportionate measures for all sectors of water use.' The Colorado River provides water for cities from Denver to Los Angeles, as well as 30 Native tribes and farmlands from the Rocky Mountains to northern Mexico. Representatives of seven states that rely on the river have been negotiating new rules for managing the river after 2026, when the current guidelines expire. But the talks have been at an impasse, as competing proposals have created a rift between the three states in the river's lower basin — California, Arizona and Nevada — and the four states in the river's upper basin — Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico. Gallego, a Democrat, said water efforts in the Colorado River Basin have largely been bipartisan, and mayors hope to see bipartisan cooperation continue. 'We're very hopeful to see Washington, D.C., make this a big priority,' Gallego said. 'We need to do everything we can to stretch existing supplies further.' Failing to reach an accord, she said, could lead to 'extensive litigation and a lot of paralysis along the river system.' The federal government has previously been helpful in providing funds to support water conservation efforts, as well as scientific and legal expertise to help the region manage the river, Gallego said. The Trump administration has recently cut the staff of the Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees water management in the West. President Trump has nominated Ted Cooke, who previously led the Central Arizona Project, to be the Bureau of Reclamation's new commissioner. 'I hope he'll work hard to bring all the stakeholders together so that we can get a lot of progress on Colorado River negotiations,' Gallego said. The federal government declared the Colorado River's first water shortage in 2021. A series of subsequent agreements, supported with federal funds, have helped secure temporary water savings. (Some farmers in California's Imperial Valley, for example, have volunteered to participate in a federally funded program that pays growers who leave some hay fields unwatered for part of the year.) The meager snowpack in the Rocky Mountains this winter has again shrunk the amount of runoff, increasing the risks the river's depleted reservoirs could decline to critically low levels. The water level of Lake Powell, on the Utah-Arizona border, now sits at 34% of capacity. Downstream near Las Vegas, Lake Mead is about 31% full. Presenting their proposals, the Climate Mayors touted the progress of cities including Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas in reducing water use through conservation, recycling water and becoming more locally self-sufficient. Cities have also reduced water use by offering cash rebates to customers who remove thirsty lawns, and by targeting the elimination of purely decorative grass. While the Colorado River supplies growing cities in Southern California and across the Southwest, agriculture remains the dominant user of the river's water, accounting for about three-fourths of the water that is diverted. Among their recommendations, the group of mayors called for state leaders to regularly convene representatives of agricultural water agencies, as well as tribes and other entities, to discuss goals and potential solutions. 'We think there is opportunity for collaboration in a variety of areas that allow agriculture to still succeed, but provide opportunities for cities as well,' Gallego said. Mark Gold, director of water scarcity solutions for the Natural Resources Defense Council, provided advice to the group that prepared the recommendations. He said the substantial reductions in water use that cities have achieved in recent years shows they are 'leading when it comes to sustainable water management, and agriculture is way behind.' An implicit message behind the cities' proposals, Gold said, is a call for those representing agricultural water agencies to take part in collaborative efforts to address the region's water shortfall. 'Success can't be achieved without agriculture coming up with sustainable, durable solutions,' he said. It's also important that the federal government begin to play a bigger role to help break the long impasse in the negotiations among the states, Gold said. 'I think anybody who has been a student of what's going on in the Colorado River system would say that the federal government has not been exerting their authority,' he said. 'And that leadership is just hugely important.' The proposals also underline city leaders' interest in seeing federal funding for water projects not be eliminated, Gold said. 'The transformation to a sustainable water management future is not going to be cheap,' he said, 'and it can't all fall on ratepayers, or you're going to have incredibly difficult affordability problems.'
San Francisco Chronicle
11-06-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
One way Trump's DOGE cuts could actually help environmentalists in the West
No big government infrastructure project made an imprint on the landscape and economy of the West more than the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's 20th century dam-building spree, which peppered 490 dams across the country, created an agricultural civilization dependent on federal hydrology civil engineering and brought about a welter of environmental difficulties after drying up dozens of once-healthy rivers. Today, the agency claims a $1.4 billion budget to maintain its fleet of aging dams. It was perhaps inevitable that the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, would seek to cut it down. Approximately 400 workers at the bureau — including dam tenders, emergency management specialists and hydrologists — received 'reduction in force' letters in March, raising fears that poorly monitored dams could fail, creating catastrophic flooding. This, just five weeks after President Donald Trump stoked fears of mismanagement by ordering billions of gallons of water released from two Central Valley dams, against the objections of officials, water experts and farmers. Turmoil in the federal dam management system represents potential disaster but also a prime opportunity: It offers environmentalists an opening to make a vigorous case for dam removal — a move that could save costs and please business interests while achieving a longstanding goal of getting rid of the most harmful and obsolete blockages on Western rivers. At Fossil Creek in the high country of north-central Arizona, a gorgeous waterfall now tumbles near headwaters where an Arizona Public Service hydroelectric dam stood until 2005. Ask people swimming below the falls where the dam was located, and you'll get some puzzled looks. 'There was never any dam here,' said one, unaware he was standing right next to its remnants, masonry concealed under travertine deposits that give it every appearance of a natural falls. Arizona built the dam in 1916 to run the ore-crushers at nearby copper and gold mines at Jerome and Crown King. Eventually, the dam also powered streetlights in Phoenix. But by the end of the century, the river had been killed and the antique plant was providing only .002% of Arizona Public Service's revenue. So the utility company took 14 feet off the top of the dam and let Fossil Creek flow, and a once-dead waterway sprang back to magnificent life. By 2009, Congress was impressed enough by the transformation to designate this once-tired industrialized trickle a National Wild and Scenic River. Twenty years after the removal, rare species like the Chiricahua leopard frog, southwestern willow flycatcher and yellow-billed cuckoo thrive in pools near the banks. Young cottonwood trees are growing. Algae are reblooming. About 500,000 dams stand in the United States today, and 90,000 of them are more than 25 feet high. The biggest are in the West, but obsolete remnants of 19th century and 20th century industrialization also litter New England and other Eastern regions. These dams have served many purposes — turning mill wheels, impounding water for crops, preventing floods, generating electricity and giving livestock a drink — but scientific consensus now holds that they do more collective damage than good. The stagnant pools, mounds of underwater silt, mosquito-breeding artificial ponds and detritus of long-shuttered factories do little to enhance the ecosystem or the landscape. But removing even useless dams is a complicated and often maddening process, according to Dartmouth College geography Professor Francis Magilligan. In some cases, it is unclear who owns a dam or has jurisdiction over it. Local groups may consider a dam a historic site. And even though it is almost always cheaper to remove a defective dam rather than repair it, the process involved can stymie those efforts. Only about 2,200 dams in the U.S. have been successfully removed, Magilligan notes. Decommissioning Fossil Creek was possible because it presented a unique political case. Many people at Arizona Public Service felt proud of the dam and the plant, and resisted shutting it down. Even though it was practically an antique, the flume leading down from the dam to the Childs and Irving power plants was still helping generate 4 megawatts of electricity (enough to power about 1,000 homes) and making about $500,000 per year for the Fortune 500 company. But the company was Arizona's largest utility and a powerful lobbying force in the state Legislature with a long-term interest in good public relations. There was also a personal quirk. Bill Post, the CEO of the utility's parent company, happened to be childhood friends with the outspoken environmentalist Robin Silvers, co-founder of the Center for Biological Diversity. Silvers appealed to Post's outdoorsman side in making the case for Fossil Creek. Over the objections of colleagues, Post approved the dam removal as a goodwill gesture and a concession to Silver's lobbying just before it was up for relicensing by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The greatest environmental threat at Fossil Creek now comes not from stagnant water or unhealthy biomes but from a crush of human sunseekers and water hounds in the summer who create traffic and litter. Scientists are looking at the long-term implications of shutting down the dam, assessing the movement of the 90-year silt buildup behind the dam walls, and the potential reentry of nonnative fish like bass and sunfish. And Fossil Creek is not the only recent high-profile test case for Western dam removal. A coalition of Native tribes in California convinced Berkshire Hathaway Energy to transfer ownership of four dams on the Klamath River to a nonprofit organization to oversee their dismantling in the name of rehabilitating a salmon fishery. Not that science is a major concern of the federal government right now. Trump administration officials have proposed expanding the capacity of the Shasta Dam to hold back more of the McCloud River in Northern California. However, if DOGE is truly interested in saving money instead of making blind layoffs, it will take a serious look at a dam removal program and sell it to the public as a cost-cutting measure, ironically making the 'drill, baby, drill' Trump administration a champion of riparian health.
