Monday January 20, 2025
Metropolitan Water District —
Three Metropolitan programs helping Southern California reduce its use of Colorado River water for years to come will receive a $186 million boost from the federal government, under new agreements reached with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the last of which was approved by Metropolitan’s board of directors this week.
Metropolitan’s Turf Replacement Program, High Desert Water Bank groundwater storage program, and leak detection and repair program for disadvantaged communities will all receive federal support through the Inflation Reduction Act, under phase two of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program. Together, the agreements will result in up to 269,000 acre-feet of conserved water added to Lake Mead by 2031 (an acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons, enough water to serve roughly three Southern California families).
““We are grateful to the federal government for their collaboration and investment in developing a more sustainable Colorado River. We are committed to continuing to work together to develop realistic solutions that increase water efficiency, reduce reliance on the river, and better manage water as a shared resource for 30 million people and farming across the entire basin,” Metropolitan board chair Adán Ortega, Jr. said.