Colorado River Update: “It’s idiotic to build any reservoirs to increase use…” — Brad Udall

Hi Friends of the Colorado River,

The chaos and confusion — all approaching calamity — intensifies on the Colorado River as the States and the Feds grapple with another low-flow year amidst the negotiations for how to manage the river in the future.

We’ve been saying it for 15 years, but now even the leading experts are saying it — “It’s idiotic to build any reservoirs to increase use…” — said CSU scientist Brad Udall, quoted in Arizona Central newspaper.

The July 21st AZ Central story, here, is long and exceptional, and Save The Colorado gets some print in it as well, all tied to the chaos around the Gross Dam and Reservoir project in Boulder County.

I met the Arizona reporter at Gross Dam, along with a few neighbors, and we visited for nearly two hours. A few days later, we visited again at the Colorado River conference at the University of Colorado Law School.

At the heart of all of the drama is that the flow of water in the river is getting lower while the demands on the river’s water are getting higher. Our small non-profit has focused on the niche of the ecological health of the river itself, often completely disregarded during the hi-stakes negotiations. The cities have a big voice, the farmers have a big voice, and the tribes increasingly have a voice. But, if you read the stories, the ecological health of the river itself has no voice at all even though it is the lead actor in the entire play.

As the negotiations intensify, we are focusing on, 1) What will be the flow of water through the Grand Canyon?, and 2) Is anyone realistically analyzing if Glen Canyon Dam can still exist as flows in the river get lower and lower?  So far, both of those issues are being ignored.

We keep our hands on the oars and our voices in the news exclusively because you support us! Thanks again and again for your support!!

You can donate on our website here: https://savethecolorado.org/donate/

Gary Wockner, Director