VOA新闻杂志2022--各州准备减少科罗拉多河水的使用

States Prepare to Reduce Use of Colorado River Water

The Colorado River supplies water for several states in the Southwest U.S. including Southern California.

But more than 20 years of dry conditions and sharp population growth is forcing changes. States using the river must renegotiate a 100-year-old agreement, the Colorado River Compact. This agreement determines how much water different areas within each state get to use.

When the Compact was first signed in the 1920s, the climate in the area was different. Because of this, the people who created the Compact incorrectly estimated how much water people would use. Now, the demand for water is greater than the supply from the river.

Two reservoirs are important parts of the water supply for the states of California, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming and New Mexico. The reservoirs are called Lake Mead¹ and Lake Powell.

In 2000, both reservoirs were about 95 percent full. But now, they are only about 27 percent full.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation² is a federal agency that supervises the use of water in many areas, including the Colorado River area.

The Commissioner³ for the Bureau of Reclamation, Camille Touton, told a committee in the U.S. Senate that water use would need to be cut next year.

She also told the states that are part of the Colorado River Basin to offer plans by August for how much water they would cut next year. Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming submitted plans. California, Nevada and Arizona have not.

The Bureau can decide by itself how much to cut, but it is giving the states more time to complete their plans. The Bureau wants the states to reduce their water use by 15 to 30 percent.

Also, 14 Native American tribes sent a letter to the Bureau expressing worry. They said they were not included in the negotiations⁴ about how much water each area gets. Native American tribes were also not included when the Compact was first signed in 1922.

Farming uses most water

It is estimated that around 70 to 80 percent of the river's water is used for farming. California uses much of its allotment of water for farming and for an area in southern California which is home to about one-half of the state's 39 million people. California has the largest population of any U.S. state.

California also leads the U.S. in sales of food from farming. It sells its fruits, vegetables, and animal products to every part of the U.S.

Because of a series of court cases, laws, and agreements, Arizona and Nevada, two states which border California, must cut their use of water before California does.

Without Colorado River water, Southern California, including the city of Los Angeles, would lose about one-third of its water supply. In addition, a large farming area in southeastern California called the Imperial Irrigation District would become dry.

Areas that use the Colorado water are trying to reduce how much they use. The city of Las Vegas, Nevada has banned grass in many areas, such as grass lawns in front of office buildings. However, single-family homes may keep their lawns.

The Southern Nevada Water Agency has even paid homeowners to remove their grass lawns.

The city of San Diego, in Southern California, has built a large plant that turns seawater into drinking water. Other methods to reduce the use of water include using dirty water, called wastewater, for landscaping. And the Metropolitan⁵ Water District in Southern California limited outdoor water use this summer to one day a week.

The U.S. Congress has approved $4 billion for projects related to the Colorado River. California state officials might use some of that money to pay farmers to use less water.

Words in This Story

negotiate -v. to make, or try to make, an agreement, often for a treaty between governments, or for a business agreement

determine -v. to decide, control, or affect the result

reservoir -n. a large area built or formed to contain water, such as behind a dam

allotment -n. a portion or part of a total to be shared –for example, an allotment of land, an allotment of money, of water, and the like

lawn –n. an area grass near a house or building

landscaping -n. the design of the area outside a building or home, such as a garden, a lawn, or a mixture of trees and small plants

1 mead   

n.蜂蜜酒

参考例句：

• He gave me a cup of mead.他给我倒了杯蜂蜜酒。
• He drank some mead at supper.晚饭时他喝了一些蜂蜜酒。

2 reclamation   

n.开垦；改造；（废料等的）回收

参考例句：

• We should encourage reclamation and recycling.我们应当鼓励废物的回收和利用。
• The area is needed for a land reclamation project.一个土地开垦项目要在这一地区进行。

3 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

4 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

5 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。