Upper Colorado River Basin States approve System Conservation Pilot Program for 2024

The Upper Colorado River Commission, Salt Lake City, Utah, approved the 2024 System Conservation Pilot Program at a meeting Sept. 21.  

The program is a collaboration between the upper Colorado River basin states, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Washington, D.C. The program is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.  

“Colorado water users are on the front lines of climate change. SCPP can help Colorado build drought resiliency tools to support local production and economic vitality,” says Becky Mitchell, Colorado’s commissioner and the UCRC’s vice-chair. 

The 2024 SCPP will focus on potential future Demand Management Storage Agreement programs and projects related to local drought resilience and water conservation. 

The “Lessons Learned” report and feedback from 2023’s SCPP participants influenced the Commission’s decisions for 2024. 

The 2024 SCPP application process starts on Oct. 27 with a public webinar. The webinar will feature input from UCRC staff, Bureau of Reclamation representatives, State officials and consultants.  

“Utah is committed to durable and sustainable conservation in our state and the Upper Basin as a whole.” says Gene Shawcroft, Utah’s commissioner “The refined SCPP will allow Utah water users to try different tools to adapt to changing Colorado River conditions with the potential to move toward longer-term demand management activities in the future.”