The Yuma City Council has submitted formal comments to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Post-2026 Operational Guidelines for the Colorado River system - a federal process that will help determine how the river is managed for decades to come.

The comments address proposed strategies for managing Lake Powell and Lake Mead - the two major reservoirs that help regulate the Colorado River. In its submission, the City Council emphasized the importance of maintaining water levels in the reservoirs to support reliable water deliveries and overall stability of the river system.

The City Council's comments stress protecting long-standing water rights, maintaining the priority system that governs Colorado River allocations, and ensuring that communities that rely directly on the river are not disproportionately impacted by future shortage policies.

For Yuma, the issue is especially important. The community relies entirely on the Colorado River as its sole municipal water supply. Unlike many communities, Yuma does not have access to alternative groundwater sources, making the reliability of Colorado River deliveries essential to the community's long-term water security.

Reliable river water is equally critical for the region's agriculture, which helps make Yuma one of the nation's leading producers of winter vegetables.

The river system plays an important role in regional energy production. Arizona's electricity providers rely heavily on hydropower generated by Colorado River flows through Hoover Dam at Lake Mead and Glen Canyon Dam at Lake Powell. Yuma residents directly benefit from power generated at Davis Dam at Lake Mohave and Parker Dam at Lake Havasu, which helps support local electricity availability and contributes to efforts to keep electricity rates lower.

In its comments, the City Council also highlighted Yuma's strong record of water conservation and emphasized the importance of accurate and transparent water accounting across the Colorado River Basin.

"It has never been more important for Yuma's voice to be heard on the issue of water and water rights," said Mayor Nicholls. "Yuma has led the way with efficient water usage and innovative practices, and the City Council and I will continue to strongly advocate for Yuma's water future alongside agriculture stakeholders and industry."

Protecting reliable Colorado River deliveries remains essential to the long-term stability of the Yuma community, its agricultural economy, and the broader river system. The City Council's comments were submitted as part of the regional review process currently underway.

The Bureau of Reclamation is reviewing comments from communities, water users, and stakeholders throughout the Southwest as it works to establish new operating guidelines for the Colorado River system beginning in 2027, when the current federal guidelines expire in 2026. The City Council's submitted comments, which will help inform decisions about how the river is managed for decades to come, are available at: https://bit.ly/40pSpQ6.