Overview of Conservation Options in the Colorado River Basin Water Supply & Demand Study

WEAN-CRB WebinarJanuary 9, 2013

• Study Objective– Assess future water supply and

demand imbalances over the next 50 years

– Develop and evaluate opportunities for resolving imbalances

• Study conducted by Reclamation and the Basin States, in collaboration with stakeholders throughout the Basin

• Began in January 2010 and to be completed in December 2012

• A planning study – does not result in any decisions, but provides the technical foundation for future activities and dialogue

Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study

Summary of Options Submitted

• Over 150 options were submitted to the Study• All options received were included and are reflected in the Study

Increased Supply – reuse, desalination, importation, etc.

Reduced Demand – M&I and agricultural conservation, etc.

Modify Operations – transfers & exchanges, water banking, etc.

Governance & Implementation – stakeholder committees, population control, re-allocation, etc.

Reduce Demand OptionsExamples of Submitted Options

• Municipal & Industrial Conservation– Water audits– Inclining block rates– Xeriscaping– Residential and

commercial retrofits– Pool covers– Gradual decreases in

water demand over time– Publication and awareness

campaigns

• Agricultural Conservation– Conveyance system

efficiency– On-farm irrigation

efficiency– Improved irrigation

management– Controlled environment

agriculture– Reductions in consumptive

use

• Options related to Energy Water Use Efficiency were also included in this category

Future Water Demand Scenarios

0

5

10

15

20

25

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060

Mill

ion

Acr

e-Fe

et p

er Y

ear

Year

<-- Historical Projected->

*Quantified demand scenarios have been adjusted to include Mexico's allotment and estimates for future reservoir evaporation and other losses.

Historical Use

Delivery to Mexico

Reservoir Evaporation

Other Losses

Current Projected (A)*

Delivery to MexicoReservoir Evaporation

Other Losses

Slow Growth (B)*Rapid Growth (C1)*Rapid Growth (C2)*Enhanced Environment (D1)*Enhanced Environment (D2)*

Colorado River Basin Historical Use and Future Projected Demand

Development of Representative Options: Municipal & Industrial Conservation• 3 representative options, reflecting 3 levels of additional

conservation at a Basin-wide level, were developed• Conservation amounts were determined for Residential Indoor;

Commercial, Institutional and Industrial; Outdoor Landscaping; and Water Loss – Best Management Practices and adoption rates derived from state of

Colorado and California approaches were used to determine amounts

TABLE F-3 Reductions in Colorado River Basin Demand (afy) for Each Demand Scenario and Conservation Level at 2060

Conservation Level

Current Projected

(A)

Slow Growth

(B)

Rapid Growth

(C1)

Rapid Growth

(C2)

Enhanced Environment

(D1)

Enhanced Environment

(D2)

Savings Assumed in Demand Scenarios

478,000 296,000 621,000 1,048,000 1,052,000 1,114,000

Additional Savings from M&I Conservation

Level 1 185,000 187,000 207,000 56,000 44,000 55,000

Level 2 576,000 504,000 681,000 427,000 238,000 383,000

Level 3 1,051,000 888,000 1,258,000 960,000 654,000 908,000

Ratings Summary for M&I Conservation Representative Options

Development of Representative Options: Agricultural Conservation

• 2 representative options, reflecting 2 implementation approaches at a Basin-wide level, were developed

• The implementation approaches considered are agricultural conservation with and without transfers, up to 1 MAF for each approach was evaluated (not additive)

• Each approach is comprised of a blend of conservation measures

TABLE F-6 Estimated Potential Water Savings at the Farm Scale for Each Agricultural Water Conservation Measure

Water Conservation Measure

Reduction in Consumptive Use

(af)

Reduction in Total Diversion

(af)

Advanced Irrigation Scheduling 0 270,000

Deficit Irrigation 100,000 130,000

On-Farm Irrigation System Improvements 0 490,000

Conveyance System Efficiency Improvements 0 820,000

Controlled Environment Agriculture 13,000 13,000

Irrigated Lands Fallowing 720,000 720,000

TOTAL 833,000 2,443,000

Ratings Summary for Agricultural Conservation Representative Options

Role of Conservation in Study Portfolios

• Four portfolios (groups of options) were evaluated in the Study designed to reflect differing strategies towards resolving future imbalances

• M&I conservation was frequently implemented and with a short delay from its first availability date under all future conditions– This is also true for the first levels of agricultural conservation

(with transfers)

• Higher levels of agricultural conservation (with transfers) were frequently implemented and with a short delay from their first availability date under only future conditions with low streamflow

Next Steps Regarding Conservation

• Conservation in both the M&I and the agricultural sectors is an area that municipalities and entities in the agricultural sector have been and will continue to pursue

• Local differences in conservation potential is an uncertainty that needs to be explored

• Convened by Reclamation, workgroups will be established in 2013 that include the Basin States and other interested stakeholders to further explore conservation opportunities

Study Contact Information• Website: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/programs/crbstudy.html• Email: ColoradoRiverBasinStudy@usbr.gov• Telephone: 702-293-8500; Fax: 702-293-8418

Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study