New conservation agreements will improve water savings for Lake Mead, further measures needed to ensure Colorado River resilience

(Washington, DC – March 5, 2024) — Three new conservation agreements announced today by the Biden-Harris administration will yield up to 400,000 acre-feet of water savings in Lake Mead. All three agreements, totaling nearly $160 million in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, involve California water districts. 

Kevin Moran, associate vice president for regional affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund issued the following statement in response: 

“Today’s conservation agreements, taken in conjunction with the 21 prior agreements across the Colorado River Basin, are an important step in the right direction. The river is at a critical inflection point. Stark climate shifts and rapid population growth mean we must reduce our draw on the river if this critical lifeline for millions of Americans is to survive. The conservation agreements will give us some degree of certainty and buy us time as we work on longer term issues that must be addressed for the sake of the communities, farms, industries, and treasured landscapes that all rely on a viable, flowing Colorado River.”  

The conservation agreements announced today include: 

• A second agreement with Coachella Valley Water District, which commits up to 30,000 acre-feet of conserved water through 2026; 
• An agreement with Palo Verde Irrigation District in cooperation with Metropolitan Water District, which commits up to 351,063 acre-feet of conserved water through 2026; and 
• An agreement with Bard Water District in cooperation with Metropolitan Water District, which commits up to 18,090 acre-feet of conserved water through 2026. 

More on the Colorado River crisis and resilience efforts.