New push to shore up shrinking Colorado River could reduce water flow to California
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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KDVR) – A big push is underway to stabilize the Colorado River, but it could reduce water flow in California.
“It is an enormous amount of water that is being diverted from the Colorado River system and this is really going to have an effect on California,” said Paul Ebel, chief operating officer for the Colorado River Storage Project in Grand Junction.
“If there was to be any reduction in water availability in the river, then we know that California would also be affected,” he added.
The project is a partnership between the Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers.
“The project, a $23 billion dollar project, is looking at where we can divert the water and what we can do with it so that it is in a better operating condition as it is today,” said Ebel.
The project is looking at all the different options and how they can help reduce how much water is being exported and also how the water can be used by California.
“This is a very complicated project that is involved with a huge array of federal agencies and numerous partners from around the world,” said Ebel.
There are many concerns that come with this project. They say this is a big project that will take a long time to get done and costs a lot of money.
“It’s a massive undertaking that takes a lot of time and can cost a lot of money,” Ebel said.
The Army Corps has told KDVR they are confident that they can complete this project in 2025.
The Bureau of Reclamation said they are confident that they can do this, as well.
“It’s a very complex project, and they want to have the right team on board and we do have great partners here in Grand Junction, on both sides of the river, in terms of the federal and state agencies, as well as the Army Corps of Engineers,
