On May 24, 2023, DOI announced continued investments to protect the sustainability and stability of the Colorado River. The funding supports commitments to conserve at least 3 million-acre feet of system water through 2026.
The Bureau of Reclamation is currently in the process of finalizing new system conservation agreements, which could conserve up to 393,000-acre feet of water in Lake Mead through 2025. These agreements will be administered through the Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program, funded by sections 50231 and 50233 of the IRA. The water entities that will commit to conserve water in Lake Mead are:
1) City of Phoenix
2) City of Tucson
3) ASARCO
4) City of Glendale
5) City of Peoria
6) City of Scottsdale
7) Metro Water District
8) Town of Gilbert
The agreements provide contractors with $400 for every acre-foot that is unused from their respective allotments of Central Arizona project water.
Reclamation also announced that it is accepting new proposals for long-term system efficiency improvements, with an aim to promote additional system conservation in the Colorado River System.