Interim Surplus Colorado River Water

Following years of intense negotiations, the Secretary of the Interior approved the Interim Surplus Guidelines in October 2003.

These guidelines allow the states of California, Arizona and Nevada to access interim surplus Colorado River water through 2016. The guidelines use Lake Mead water elevations as the basis for determining how much water the lower basin states can divert in addition to their basic river apportionments.

Unfortunately, the ongoing drought in the Colorado River basin has reduced the probabilities associated with various amounts of surplus water available to Nevada under the guidelines. This has influenced near-term planning by requiring a higher emphasis on drought response and conservation measures. It also has escalated planning for additional in-state resources.