CVWD secures federal conservation agreements for 2027-2028 Colorado River cuts

CVWD secures federal conservation agreements for 2027-2028 Colorado River cutsThe Coachella Valley Water District will receive $325 per acre-foot for conserving up to 70,000 acre-feet of water over two years, following the removal of controversial contract language that could have allowed conserved water to cross state lines.

The board authorized extensions to the Replenishment Facilities Curtailment Program and an agricultural fallowing program for 2027 and 2028.

CVWD will curtail up to 35,000 acre-feet annually at the Thomas E. Levy replenishment facility.

Compensation from the federal Inflation Reduction Act is set at $325 per acre-foot, down from previous rates of $400 per acre-foot.

A controversial contract provision allowing the federal government to move conserved water across state lines was struck from the final agreement prior to approval.

Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) board members have approved an extension of System Conservation Implementation Agreements (SCIA) with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for 2027 and 2028. The move is part of broader lower basin efforts to stabilize the Colorado River and retain water in Lake Mead. The agreements cover two main initiatives: the Replenishment Facilities Curtailment Program and an agricultural fallowing program. Under the curtailment program, CVWD will hold back up to 35,000 acre-feet per year at the Thomas E. Levy facility, totaling a potential 70,000 acre-feet. The agricultural program covers up to 10,000 acre-feet annually. Funding for the conservation is sourced from the remaining $350 million pool of the federal Inflation Reduction Act. The compensation rate is set at $325 per acre-foot, a decrease from the $400 per acre-foot paid in recent years. If the district hits the maximum 70,000 acre-foot curtailment goal, it will yield up to $22.75 million. For the agricultural fallowing program, participating growers will receive $275 per acre-foot, while CVWD retains $50 for administrative costs and fee waivers. Just prior to the vote, late-stage negotiations resulted in the removal of a controversial clause. Assistant General Manager Robert Cheng noted the original language would have allowed the Secretary of the Interior to use the conserved water for federally determined purposes, potentially moving it across state lines to fulfill obligations in Arizona. The final contract ensures the conserved water remains in Lake Mead for system protection instead. Board members discussed the need for a future study session to determine how to utilize the accumulating conservation funds. Director Castulo R. Estrada raised questions about how to apply the revenues toward urban ratepayers who have historically funded the replenishment water that is now being conserved. The General Manager noted that the district's OASIS Project, an in-lieu recharge initiative, is currently mitigating the groundwater impacts of the reduced replenishment at the Levy facility.