Hydrowonk Asks about the Future Course of the Colorado River
The Colorado River is in “Dire Straits.” Water storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead has been steadily plummeting for a quarter of a century. The Seven Basin States are at an impasse. “Litigation swords” are rattling.
The Bureau of Reclamation has released its final EIS for operations starting October 1st. There is a new sheriff in town: adaptative risk management and continued consultation among the willing. The times must be “a changing.”
Institutional change is often a gradual evolution of formal rules, laws, organizations, and informal social norms as they adapt to shifts in technology, economic conditions, the environment, politics, and societal values. The future will not be a “straight-line” of successes. Bumps in the road will be encountered. Can “driving off cliffs” be avoided?
The hydrologic circumstances on the Colorado River, though, require abrupt not gradual change.
This post presents a survey to elicit the wisdom of the “Colorado River crowd.” The Department of the Interior has been clear: continued openness and support for finding a consensus. Is it time for Colorado River Basin interests to “rethink” about how they have been tackling the problem? Hydrowonk believes that a breakdown of the issues may help facilitate cooperation.
Hydrowonk’s Survey on the Colorado River’s Future provides an opportunity especially for those outside the “inter circle” to express their perspectives. Cataloguing perspectives may help broaden the perspectives of policymakers.
How did we get here?
(10 questions: 4 poll questions; 6 narrative response fields)What do you think about Interior’s final EIS?
(10 questions: 5 poll questions; 5 narrative response fields)What to do about plummeting system storage?
(4 questions: 2 poll questions; 2 narrative response fields)How should unavoidable cutbacks be allocated?
(11 questions: 5 poll questions; 6 narrative response fields)What about Tribal Water Rights?
(6 questions: 3 poll questions; 3 narrative response fields)What about Mexico’s 1944 Treaty Colorado River Entitlement?
(5 questions: 3 poll questions; 2 narrative response fields)What about the environment?
(8 questions: 3 poll questions; 5 narrative response fields)How should the “policy toolbox” be expanded?
(7 questions: 3 poll questions; 4 narrative response fields)Who are you, generic characteristics?
(4 questions: 4 poll questions)
Hydrowonk did not put the questions on his own. Thanks for input from his network. Got a baker’s dozen plus of insights and suggestions.
Some questions ask you to select from a list of possible answers. Many questions are narrative response fields seeking statements about your perspective. Understanding the basis of a position is as important (if not more so) than hearing a stated position. There are many essential aspects of addressing the challenges on the Colorado River. There are many questions.
This survey is anonymous. No names, email addresses, or identifying information will be collected. Results will be reported only in aggregate. Answer what you like. Skip the rest. Speak your mind! Feel free to contact us to submit questions and complain about our questions.
While the circumstances of the Colorado River have no formal “end date,” this survey closes on September 23, 2026—a week before the “boss” acts. Hydrowonk will report on the results. Anticipate transparent reporting.
Depending on the success of this survey, Hydrowonk may publish follow-up surveys as we all adapt to the evolving circumstances on the Colorado River.