Bill Overview
Title: Colorado River Drought Response Act
Description: This bill authorizes appropriations for the Department of the Interior to reduce the near-term likelihood of Lake Mead (in Arizona and Nevada) and Lake Powell (in Arizona and Utah) declining to critically low water elevations. These reservoirs are part of the Colorado River Basin. The bill also decreases the amount of time Interior has to act on existing requirements to establish grant programs for watershed habitat restoration and large-scale water recycling and reuse in certain western states.
Sponsors: Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-9]
Target Audience
Population: People dependent on the Colorado River for water supply
Estimated Size: 35000000
- The Colorado River Basin is critical for water supply in the southwestern United States, particularly for states like California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.
- Over 40 million people rely on the Colorado River for their water supply.
- Lake Mead and Lake Powell are major reservoirs impacted by this legislation, and their water levels affect water availability in the region.
- Communities, farmers, and industries in these western states will be directly impacted by changes in water availability.
- In addition to U.S. citizens, cross-border agreements mean that Mexico also relies on water from the Colorado River.
Reasoning
- The dependency on the Colorado River is primarily concentrated in southwestern states, notably in urban areas that rely on these water reservoirs for municipal and industrial purposes.
- Agricultural activities in these states are also heavily dependent on consistent water supplies, making them a primary beneficiary group of such policies.
- Given the long-term nature of water conservation and recycling efforts, immediate impacts might not be as pronounced as those over a multi-year period, hence the varying wellbeing scores across different years.
- The budget constraints mean that the policy must be implemented efficiently to target the most critical areas and activities, limiting its reach initially but potentially expanding as programs mature and demonstrate efficacy.
- The variety of stakeholders, from urban populations to agricultural workers, necessitates a mixed policy impact, affecting individuals differently based on occupation and geography.
Simulated Interviews
Farmer (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is crucial for ensuring water supply for my farm, especially during droughts.
- However, I am concerned about the time it takes for these measures to show a positive impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 1 |
Hotel Manager (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Water conservation is vital for maintaining the tourism industry in Vegas.
- I'm optimistic about the policy, but it needs to kick in sooner rather than later.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Environmental Engineer (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy aligns with my work in promoting sustainable water use.
- I'm hopeful, but there needs to be strong oversight and accountability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Local Government Officer (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Implementing this policy could greatly improve our city's water security.
- Coordination with other states will be key to success.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Retired (San Diego, California)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy means fewer water restrictions during summer.
- Although retired, my quality of life is affected by environmental factors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
University Student (Tucson, Arizona)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm excited about the prospects for environmental sustainability with this policy.
- It's important for my generation to see active steps being taken on climate issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Rancher (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Preserving our water sources is crucial for maintaining my ranch.
- These policies need to clearly address water rights and access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Water Rights Lawyer (Reno, Nevada)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any legislative action on water rights impacts my profession directly.
- I am hopeful that such policy will foster more efficient water use.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Agricultural Worker (Mexicali, Mexico)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The stability of my job depends on water availability from the Colorado River.
- I'm hopeful U.S. policies will also consider cross-border impacts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 1 |
Real Estate Developer (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like these can have unpredictable effects on property values.
- Ensuring water availability is critical for future development projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $80000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $100000000)
Year 2: $80000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $100000000)
Year 3: $85000000 (Low: $65000000, High: $105000000)
Year 5: $85000000 (Low: $65000000, High: $110000000)
Year 10: $90000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $120000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $130000000)
Key Considerations
- Water availability is a critical issue for the southwestern United States, affecting millions of residents and economies.
- The success of this act depends on effective collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies.
- Potential legal and international treaty considerations regarding water rights with Mexico must be carefully managed.
- Environmental impacts of altered water flow and potentially increased water recycling efforts on ecosystems need to be assessed.