Colorado River

The Extraordinary California Drought of 2013/2014: Character, Context, and The Role of Climate Change

American Meteorological Society (AMS) | September 30th, 2014

Nearly the entire state of California experienced extremely dry conditions during 2013 (Fig. 2.1a). Statewide, 12-month accumulated precipitation was less than 34% of

Nearly the entire state of California experienced extremely dry conditions during 2013 (Fig. 2.1a). Statewide, 12-month accumulated precipitation was less than 34% of average (Fig. 2.1b), leading to a wide range of impacts. In early 2014, state and federal water agencies announced that agricultural water users in the Central Valley would receive no irrigation water during 2014 (DWR 2014; USBR 2014), and that a number of smaller communities throughout California could run out of water entirely within a 90-day window (USDA 2014a). Low rainfall, unusually warm temperatures, and stable atmospheric conditions affected the health of fisheries and other ecosystems (CDFW 2014), created highly unusual mid-winter wildfire risk (CAL FIRE 2014), and caused exceptionally poor air quality (BAAQMD 2014). Such impacts ultimately resulted in the declaration of a state-level “drought emergency” and the federal designation of all 58 California counties as “natural disaster areas” (USDA 2014b). *From Explaining Extreme Events of 2013 from a Climate Perspective, Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 95 (9), S1–S96.

The Future of California’s Water-Energy-Climate Nexus

Pacific Institute | September 9th, 2021

Water and energy are inextricably linked in California and, as one resource faces constraints or challenges, so does the other. With the state looking to both reach its c

Water and energy are inextricably linked in California and, as one resource faces constraints or challenges, so does the other. With the state looking to both reach its climate change goals and decarbonize its economy through a transition to 100 percent clean energy, water will play an integral role. Water is a key input for energy production, and energy is integral to all aspects of water management and use in California—including collection, treatment, heating, and wastewater management. Prior studies have estimated that about 20 percent of California’s total statewide electricity use, a third of non-power plant natural gas consumption, and 88 billion gallons of diesel consumption are related to water—from collection and treatment to use and wastewater management—with a large share associated with heating water. These interdependencies between water and energy supplies are commonly referred to as the water-energy nexus.

The futures market for water rights trading in California: Analyzing the emergence of a controversial experiment

Environmental Challenges (Elsevier) | March 29th, 2025

This paper presents a qualitative case study of the world's first water futures contract in California, a market that enables hedgers and speculators to bet on water pric

This paper presents a qualitative case study of the world's first water futures contract in California, a market that enables hedgers and speculators to bet on water prices. It is attempted to explain which factors shaped the emergence of the unique market by applying the Political Process Inherent Dynamics Approach (PIDA), an analytical framework from the field of environmental policy analysis. In addition, the topics of heated debate that have surrounded the new market are summarized and contextualized. To obtain the relevant information, expert interviews, complemented by online sources, were subjected to a Qualitative Content Analysis. It is concluded that the launch of the contract is an extreme case of private business actors shaping water governance, made possible by a longstanding market philosophy in the US, that gives leeway for actors of financialization to create facts. In the political-administrative realm, a lack of accountability and will to interfere seems to prevail. However, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other actors have led efforts to abolish the market, criticizing water futures in ways that resonate with broader debates about privatization and food futures.

The Hardest Working River in the West: Common-Sense Solutions for a Reliable Water Future for the Colorado River Basin

Western Resource Advocates | July 14th, 2014

The majestic Colorado River cuts a 1,450-mile path through the American West before drying up well short of its natural finish line at the Gulf of California. Reservoirs

The majestic Colorado River cuts a 1,450-mile path through the American West before drying up well short of its natural finish line at the Gulf of California. Reservoirs once filled to the brim from the river and its tributaries are at historic lows due to an unprecedented drought and growing human demands. Diminished stream flows now pose serious challenges for wildlife and recreation, as well as cities, farms, and others who rely upon the river. Steps currently being taken to improve the situation are not up to the task of bringing the river system back into balance and providing a reliable water supply for all the communities who depend upon the Colorado River. Fortunately, we have five feasible, affordable, common-sense solutions that can be implemented now to protect the flow of the river, ensure greater economic vitality, and secure water resources for millions of Americans.

The Human Right to Water Bill in California

University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) | July 1st, 2013

The Human Right To Water In Poor Communities Of Color

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | January 19th, 2021

Since the state enacted the Human Right to Water Legislation (AB 685) eight years ago, California has added more regulatory authority and more funding to help small disa

Since the state enacted the Human Right to Water Legislation (AB 685) eight years ago, California has added more regulatory authority and more funding to help small disadvantaged or severely disadvantaged community water systems. The California Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) can order mandatory consolidation to merge failing community systems with another, higher-functioning water system. The State Water Board is authorized to issue an enforcement order to mandate that water systems meet water quality standards. Other recent legislation authorizes the State Water Board to designate an Interim Administrator to manage the system, improve it, or consolidate the water system with another. The newly enacted Safer and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) drinking water program calls for annual appropriation of $130 million dollars for ten years to address the problems of disadvantaged community water systems. This report identifies the 64 community water systems in Los Angeles County serving disadvantaged or severely disadvantaged populations.

The impact of pricing structure change on residential water consumption: A long-term analysis of water utilities in California

Water Resources and Economics (Elsevier) | February 10th, 2024

California's demand-side urban water management policies, such as shifting water pricing structures from non-conservation to conservation-based rates, have received much

California's demand-side urban water management policies, such as shifting water pricing structures from non-conservation to conservation-based rates, have received much attention in terms of meeting the state's short- and long-term water conservation policies. This paper quantifies the effect of pricing structure changes on residential water consumption using a survey dataset of 189 major California water utilities from 1994 to 2019. Results of our study demonstrate that residential per capita per day water consumption was reduced by an average of 2.6% when water agencies switched from non-conservation-based to conservation-based pricing structures. We also found evidence that the longer a utility maintained a non-conservation-based rate structure before switching to conservation-based pricing, the larger the water consumption reduction in that utility's service area. In addition, utilities that reverted to non-conservation rates after having longer-term conservation pricing structures experienced smaller increases compared to having long-term non-conservation ones in water use in their service areas. This suggests evidence of a crowding-in effect for transitions from conservation-based to non-conservation-based pricing structures.

The Inundation of the Salton Basin by the Colorado River and How It Was Caused

Scientific American | April 14th, 1906

If the Colorado River continues to flow through the channel which it has been occupying during the last six months, the geography of the Southwest must be radically ch

If the Colorado River continues to flow through the channel which it has been occupying during the last six months, the geography of the Southwest must be radically changed, for at the present time but little water from the river reaches the Gulf of California, which until recently has formed its main estuary. Except when the river is in flood, the bulk of the water flows into what is known as the Salton Sink in southern California-a distance of fully 160 miles from the gulf.  The new channel of the Colorado takes a northwesterly course, while the channeI it formerly occupied is nearly south. It is perhaps needless to say that this watercourse is not only one of the most important in the Southwest, but is notable for the immense volume of water which it carries, especially during the flood seasons. But the quantity of detritus which it holds in solution is enormous, and is nearly equal to that carried down by the Mississippi at certain seasons of the year, owing to the topography of the region which drains into it. An idea of the quantity of water carried by the Colorado at different times of the year can be gained, when it is stated that actual measurements indicate a flow ranging as high as 30,000 cubic feet per second. It is estimated that if the silt and other material brought down the river in the course of a year were spread evenly over a given 'surface, it would cover no less than 35,000 acres to a minimum depth of one foot. Consequently, the Colorado is almost as much of a "land maker" as the Mississippi, acting like a gigantic suction dredge in carrying away the material in its vicinity and depositing it upon the lowlands near its mouth and in the Gulf of California.

The Ives Expedition of 1858

Imperial Irrigation District (IID) | October 1st, 1956

The Magnitude of California's Water Challenges

UnIversity of California, Davis (UC Davis) | June 4th, 2024

California will see increasing water scarcity from climate change, the end of overdrafting groundwater and the Colorado River’s massive reservoirs, increased water dedi

California will see increasing water scarcity from climate change, the end of overdrafting groundwater and the Colorado River’s massive reservoirs, increased water dedications for environmental flows, and other factors, such as salination of aquifers and land subsidence reducing canal capacities. Total reduction in average water availability in the coming decades will likely range from 4.6 to 9 million acre-feet per year. For context, this is equivalent to the water use of 1 – 2.8 million acres of irrigated agriculture or most urban water use in California. Perhaps 20-30% of this loss will likely be addressed by ongoing water conservation and supply improvements, being planned and implemented, leaving a 3 – 7.2 million acre-feet/year likely net average difference between statewide water demands and availability.