Reduce? A Look at the Upper Colorado River Basin's Annual Delivery Obligation to the Lower Basin in Light of Secretary Norton's Mid-year 2005 AOP Decision

摘要

On May 2, 2005, Secretary of the Department of Interior Gale Norton sent a letter to Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. outlining her decision that the Upper Colorado Basin States would not be permitted to reduce its annual delivery of Colorado River water to the Lower Colorado River Basin States for water-year 2005 in order to refill Lake Powell.1 The decision came as Upper Basin States were staring at the lowest lake levels in Lake Powell history, nearly 150 feet lower than the maximum elevation, and it left many wondering what the decision really means.2 This paper will examine the background leading up to the Secretary's decision, the arguments stakeholders made that influenced the decision, the decision itself, and determine the significance of the decision and what it means for the future. The paper concludes that while the Secretary's decision not to allow the Upper Basin to limit its water-year 2005 requirement will have little impact in the long run, the Secretary's assertion of authority to make such a reduction in the future might.