Biden signs five water conservation agreements

The Biden-Harris Administration has announced progress for the Colorado River System with the signing of five new water conservation agreements. The agreements, facilitated by the Bureau of Reclamation, involve collaborations with the Imperial Irrigation District, Bard Water District, Metropolitan Water District, and the Gila River Indian Community.  

These efforts align with President Joe Biden’s Investing in America initiative, aimed at addressing drought and climate change in the western United States, according to Deb Haaland, secretary of the interior. 

“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to making western communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change,” says Haaland. “With transformational resources provided through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Interior Department is collaborating with states, Tribes and partners to make smart investments to strengthen the stability and sustainability of the Colorado River System to support the families, farmers and ecosystems that rely on this vital basin.” 

The short term agreements with the Imperial and Bard Water Districts, in partnership with the Metropolitan Water District, are projected to conserve over 717,000 acre-feet of water by 2026. In addition, the Gila River Indian Community has entered the first long-term conservation agreements, which could yield over 73,000 acre-feet of water savings within the next decade.  

The agreements are part of the Lower Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program, which utilizes funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. Collectively, 25 agreements are anticipated to conserve more than 2.28 million acre-feet of water. Longterm investments are also being made, with the goal of saving over 1 million acre-feet of water in the Lower Basin.