The State : State to Get More Water

Colorado River water not being used in southern Nevada and Arizona will go to California next year to help alleviate drought conditions, officials said. The three states annually share in 7.5 million acre-feet of Colorado River water, with 4.4 million acre-feet going to California, 2.8 million acre-feet to Arizona and 300,000 acre-feet to southern Nevada. Gerald Edwards, chief engineer for Nevada’s Colorado River Commission, said that only about 110,000 acre-feet is consumed in the region. Southern Nevada will eventually consume its entire 300,000 acre-feet allotment as the area continues to grow, Edwards said. Bureau of Reclamation spokesman Julian Rhinehart said the Central Arizona Project needs to be completed before Arizona has the facilities to use its entire apportionment. Rhinehart said it is common practice to divert Arizona and Nevada apportionments to California. The bureau said the diversions to California would halt if either state entered a long-term dry spell.