The upper basin states in the Colorado River system — Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico — will be encouraging water conservation by paying users not to use water.

In a pilot program aimed at mitigating the effects of long-term drought, upper basin Colorado River water users such as farmers, ranchers, cities, irrigation districts, tribes and industrial water users that can demonstrate a project that can reduce their water use may receive funding.  Money comes from the federal Inflation Reduction Act funding for Colorado River projects.

Aspen Journalism reports that the conservation plan is projected to begin this summer and has linked to the template for the Upper Colorado River Basin System Conservation Implementation Agreement that will be awarded to qualified water users.  The amount to be paid per acre-foot of water conserved is currently unknown.

Image and Credit:

Desert landscape image showing a hiking trail with hikers along the Colorado River in Lees Ferry Arizona, November 2021. By Ray Redstone under Creative Commons license via Wikimedia.