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Drought Contingency Plan

Joint Colorado River Shortage Briefing Draws Hundreds of Online Attendees

In an April 29 online briefing that attracted over 700 viewers, the Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the General Manager of the Central Arizona Project described the unprecedented, drought-driven challenges facing the Colorado River system and what Arizona is doing to address them.

Published:May 6, 2021
  • Read more about Joint Colorado River Shortage Briefing Draws Hundreds of Online Attendees

A Joint Colorado River Shortage Preparedness Briefing is Scheduled for April 29

On April 15, the operators of the Colorado River system – the Bureau of Reclamation – made clear what everyone familiar with the drought-stricken system has seen coming as the extraordinarily dry winter of 2020/21 has lingered on:

That by the end of 2021, water levels at the system’s Lake Mead reservoir likely will fall to a point that a “Tier 1” shortage declaration likely would be triggered for the 2022 deliveries of Colorado River water.

Published:April 27, 2021
  • Read more about A Joint Colorado River Shortage Preparedness Briefing is Scheduled for April 29

2019 Year In Review: Signing Colorado River agreement top water story for AZ

Drought Contingency Plan

Published:January 16, 2020
  • Read more about 2019 Year In Review: Signing Colorado River agreement top water story for AZ

Leaders of DCP effort take home AZ Forward “Governor’s Award” for environmental excellence

In several respects, the big environmental winner this year in the Southwest has been in the realm of water.

Published:October 2, 2019
  • Read more about Leaders of DCP effort take home AZ Forward “Governor’s Award” for environmental excellence

The Next Big Thing: Arizona prepares for the next step in CO River management discussions

Morning Scoop panel So, it really was a news scoop. That was revealed in the morning. A regular… morning scoop.

Published:September 19, 2019
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Director Buschatzke’s Remarks at the 2019 GWC Summer Conference

Submitted by [email protected] on June 17, 2019 - 7:28am
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Director envisions a “Great Crusade” ahead for CO River community in coming negotiations

Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke recently described the lessons that he said needed to be learned from the long, complicated Drought Contingency Plan negotiations that culminated May 20 in the DCP signing event at Hoover Dam.

Published:June 13, 2019
  • Read more about Director envisions a “Great Crusade” ahead for CO River community in coming negotiations

Arizona participates in historic agreement to protect the CO River system & Lake Mead

Published:May 23, 2019
  • Read more about Arizona participates in historic agreement to protect the CO River system & Lake Mead

Inter-agency drought group recommends continuation of “drought declaration”

 

Arizona State Climatologist Nancy Selover discussing the influences on the upcoming SW monsoon season

Published:May 15, 2019
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Voice Vote on Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan

Submitted by [email protected] on April 12, 2019 - 8:27am
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Congress zips into action, quickly approving long-sought CO River DCP Authorization Act

Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Authorization Act

In the end, it was the bipartisan sense of urgency among lawmakers – the fast-building recognition on both sides of the aisle that this legislation needed the support of Congress -- that proved most stunning to observers.

Published:April 12, 2019
  • Read more about Congress zips into action, quickly approving long-sought CO River DCP Authorization Act

Colorado River DCP Proposals Get A Positive, Enthusiastic Reception In Congress

Support in Congress for the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plans took a big step forward on Thursday when lawmakers on a key House subcommittee expressed bipartisan – and, in many cases, enthusiastic – support for the effort to help stabilize the drought-troubled river system.

Among those expressing strong support for the DCPs was Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee.

Published:March 29, 2019
  • Read more about Colorado River DCP Proposals Get A Positive, Enthusiastic Reception In Congress

CO River Basin States submit drought plans to Congress; USBR rescinds Fed. Reg. notice

 From Left: L. James Eklund of Colorado; John J. Entsminger of Nevada; Arizona ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke; Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman; John R. D’Antonio, Jr.</body></html>

Published:March 22, 2019
  • Read more about CO River Basin States submit drought plans to Congress; USBR rescinds Fed. Reg. notice

2018 Year in Review: The biggest news stories of the year

As the New Year approaches, compiling a list of the top stories in the Arizona water industry is always a challenge because there’s always a lot to choose from. But 2018 truly was more eventful than other years in recent memory.

From the increased efforts of Drought Contingency Planning, to a wildfire season unlike any other, to the ongoing drought declarations within the Southwest, take a look back at some of the key moments in 2018, as they were reported by Arizona Water News.

 

Published:December 28, 2018
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Getting to the Finish Line: What’s next for Colorado River Drought Contingency Planning?

By Arizona Department of Water Resources and Central Arizona Project

Arizona has worked over the course of several years with the other States in the Colorado River Basin and the United States to develop an interstate Drought Contingency Plan to protect Colorado River supplies. Within Arizona, stakeholders have been working to develop an Implementation Plan, a series of agreements that will govern the way that certain terms of the DCP will be implemented within Arizona once the DCP is effective.

Published:December 20, 2018
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Drought ICG recommends continuing ‘drought emergency declaration’ for Arizona

The interagency coordinating group that analyzes Arizona’s drought status on behalf of the Governor had some good water news and some bad water news at its Nov. 28 meeting.

Published:December 5, 2018
  • Read more about Drought ICG recommends continuing ‘drought emergency declaration’ for Arizona

How Will AZDCP Fit Into the Colorado River Basin Drought Contingency Plan?

While Arizona water managers and affected stakeholders have been meeting almost daily over the past several months to finalize the state’s Drought Contingency Plan (DCP), plans have been underway on a parallel track for several years to ensure the framework is in place for the entire Colorado River Basin DCP.

Published:October 17, 2018
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Facts about the Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan

Submitted by [email protected] on September 5, 2018 - 1:42pm
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The DCP makes CO River delivery shortfalls less painful, but it doesn’t make them go away

By Tom Buschatzke, Arizona Department of Water Resources Director, and Ted Cooke, Central Arizona Project General Manager

 

Published:September 5, 2018
  • Read more about The DCP makes CO River delivery shortfalls less painful, but it doesn’t make them go away

Planning for second Drought Contingency Plan briefing underway

The next step in the reinvigorated effort to bring a Drought Contingency Plan in Arizona to closure is scheduled for Tuesday, July 10, at the Heard Museum in central Phoenix.

Co-hosted once again by the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, the public meeting is set for 1-4 pm at the museum auditorium, located at 2301 N. Central Ave.

Published:July 6, 2018
  • Read more about Planning for second Drought Contingency Plan briefing underway

Reclamation Commissioner calls for action on Lake Mead “contingency” plans

Brenda Burman Commissioner for the Bureau of Reclamation

Published:June 13, 2018
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ADWR Director Buschatzke’s presentation on “The Future of Water in Arizona”

Submitted by [email protected] on April 6, 2018 - 12:55pm
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Historically dry winter means Lake Mead may be closer to shortfall than people think

Lake Mead shortfall as soon as 2019? Don’t write it off

A Q&A with the ADWR Director about potential consequences of an historically low snowpack in the Rockies

In case you hadn’t noticed, we’ve had some beautiful warm, sunny, dry days of late.

Published:February 9, 2018
  • Read more about Historically dry winter means Lake Mead may be closer to shortfall than people think

Binational agreement includes joint desalination proposals

The cooperative measures on Colorado River water that the United States and Mexico agreed to in September – an agreement described, collectively, as “Minute 323” – have garnered a lot of media attention in the weeks since the documents were signed.

Published:October 19, 2017
  • Read more about Binational agreement includes joint desalination proposals

Water policy in Arizona: The State must speak with one voice

This commentary by Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke first appeared in a special section on water policy published on September 29th by the Arizona Capitol Times. It is re-published here with the permission of Arizona Capitol Times.

By Tom Buschatzke

Published:October 4, 2017
  • Read more about Water policy in Arizona: The State must speak with one voice

Arizona Water Resources director joins U.S. & Mexico in finalizing epic CO River agreement

With an eye to long-term, binational cooperation and to managing a more stable Colorado River System, representatives of the United States, Mexico and the Colorado River Basin States of the U.S. on Wednesday celebrated the "entry into force" of an agreement deemed essential to the System’s future.

Published:September 27, 2017
  • Read more about Arizona Water Resources director joins U.S. & Mexico in finalizing epic CO River agreement

Sen. Flake Questions Dir. Buschatzke at Senate Water & Power Subcommittee Hearing

Submitted by [email protected] on August 25, 2017 - 11:01am
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Briefing Congress on drought preparedness

Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke told a U.S. Senate panel on Wednesday that his state’s philosophy on preparing for long-term drought is focused on developing and improving the tools necessary to combat the effects of lengthy dry spells.

Published:August 3, 2017
  • Read more about Briefing Congress on drought preparedness

World Water Congress report

The World Water Congress, an event hosted every three years by the International Water Resources Association to promote discussion and share knowledge about water issues world-wide, is meeting this week in Mexico.

Participating as an invited panelist is Arizona Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke.

Published:June 1, 2017
  • Read more about World Water Congress report

Efforts to save Lake Mead flagging thanks to cold, wet winter

The conservation group American Rivers has rated the Colorado River the most endangered river in the country for 2017, notably the portion of the river that begins at Lee Ferry below Glen Canyon Dam, northeast of the Grand Canyon.

Published:April 13, 2017
  • Read more about Efforts to save Lake Mead flagging thanks to cold, wet winter

4 Take Aways from Saturday’s revelation of “contingency plans” for Colorado River water

Arizona Department of Water Resources director Tom Buschatzke detailed in an oped in Saturday's Arizona Republic the on-going, highly sensitive efforts to strike a three-state deal to leave a portion of the states’ Colorado River allocations in Lake Mead in order to keep the lake above critical levels.

Published:April 22, 2016
  • Read more about 4 Take Aways from Saturday’s revelation of “contingency plans” for Colorado River water

All in on protecting Lake Mead

“We are the people of the river.”

With a sweep of his hand toward vast, new wetlands blossoming at the southernmost corner of the Gila River Indian Community, Tribal Governor Stephen Lewis explained the dual purpose behind the tribe’s investment in the fast-rushing waters flowing near the site known as the Olberg Bridge.

Published:March 17, 2017
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Dir. Tom Buschatzke (Arizona Department of Water Resources)

On Drought and the "Drought Contingency Plan": A conversation with Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke about the on-going, multi-state struggle to save Lake Mead

Submitted by [email protected] on February 22, 2017 - 2:20pm
  • Read more about Dir. Tom Buschatzke (Arizona Department of Water Resources)

On Drought and the "Drought Contingency Plan"

The negotiations to find an equitable way to stabilize the Colorado River system and, specifically, Lake Mead have been underway for nearly four years now.

In some respects, the parties at the table – including representatives of California, Nevada, the federal government and Arizona – largely have found common ground, in principle.

Published:February 16, 2017
  • Read more about On Drought and the "Drought Contingency Plan"

Colorado River water users making progress

Over the years, the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation famously use the annual December meetings of Colorado River water-users to announce big policy changes.

That didn’t happen this time at the annual Colorado River Water Users Association meetings in Las Vegas. Despite a yeoman effort to push through an agreement on a drought contingency plan among the Lower Basin states, the many moving parts of the complex “DCP” agreement did not come together before CRWUA members parted ways. 

Published:December 21, 2016
  • Read more about Colorado River water users making progress

Dir. Tom Buschatzke (Arizona Department of Water Resources)

 A brief conversation with Tom Buschatzke the Director for the Arizona Department of Water Resources

Submitted by [email protected] on January 9, 2017 - 4:34pm
  • Read more about Dir. Tom Buschatzke (Arizona Department of Water Resources)

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