Conrad, Steve A. --- "Decision-Support for the Water–Energy Nexus: Examining Decision-making in the American West" [2011] ELECD 1033; in Kenney, S. Douglas; Wilkinson, Robert (eds), "The Water–Energy Nexus in the American West" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011)

Book Title: The Water–Energy Nexus in the American West

Editor(s): Kenney, S. Douglas; Wilkinson, Robert

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781849809368

Section: Chapter 14

Section Title: Decision-Support for the Water–Energy Nexus: Examining Decision-making in the American West

Author(s): Conrad, Steve A.

Number of pages: 18

Extract:

14. Decision-support for the water­
energy nexus: examining decision-
making in the American West
Steve A. Conrad

14.1. INTRODUCTION

It is July 21, 2015, and a lower-than-predicted flow in the Colorado River
has caused water levels in Lake Mead to fall below 1060 feet for the second
time in two years. Aggressive water conservation programs in Las Vegas
and Phoenix, in addition to restrictions on irrigation allotments to farmers
in California, have failed to reduce water demand sufficiently. If water
levels continue to decline in Lake Mead, it may prove impossible to use the
turbines at Hoover Dam to generate electrical power. Even though the US
Bureau of Reclamation has released water from Lake Powell to raise the
level of Lake Mead, water managers must soon decide between shutting
down power generation and further curtailing water deliveries to Arizona
and Nevada.
Meanwhile, in Texas, water reserves at the South Texas Project Electric
Generating Station have dropped significantly, prompting nuclear power
plant managers to request an additional 80 000 acre-feet of water be
diverted from the `Texas' Colorado River ­ a completely different river
system despite the identical name ­ to replenish the reserves. Rice farmers
who depend on water from this Colorado River and who are still recover-
ing from water interruptions during last year's growing season have just
received notice that continued drought conditions are expected. Unless the
extreme water restrictions currently in place succeed in reducing demand
on the river, the Lower Colorado River ...