All Colorado River basin states have the right to develop and use their water, in accordance with the compacts that form the basis for the Law of the River. They can do so whenever the need arises.
Utah is entitled to 23% of the water available to the Upper Basin states.
The state uses less than a million acre-feet of Colorado River water — well under its annual reliable supply of approximately 1.4 million acre-feet. Utah’s rapid population and economic growth has necessitated that the state develop its available water resources. Developing its unused Colorado River water complies with the law and does not jeopardize other states’ allocations.
For nearly two decades, Utah has studied the Lake Powell Pipeline, which would deliver 6% of the state’s annual reliable supply of river water to its driest and fastest-growing region, Washington County.
The county has reduced its per capita use by 30% while nearly doubling its population from 2000 to 2018. Additional conservation reductions are planned. County water use is comparable to other desert communities when calculated using similar methodologies.
The Bureau of Reclamation recently released its draft Environmental Impact Study on the pipeline and determined that the project is needed, the water is available and there are few environmental impacts.
Those who suggest that Colorado River basin states should challenge Utah’s use of its water fail to understand the Law of the River, which authorizes each state to develop and use its respective share.
The writer is former speaker of the Utah House of Representatives and is a retired senior vice president of international trade and finance for Zions Bank.