A new proposal from California, Arizona and Nevada to reduce water use along the Colorado River is drawing renewed attention to long-term water planning in Pasadena and across Southern California.
Pasadena receives imported water through the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which draws in part from the Colorado River. The city also relies heavily on local groundwater supplies, making both regional and local water management strategies critical.
The three Lower Basin states submitted a short-term plan Friday to the U.S. Department of the Interior outlining how they would manage Colorado River supplies through 2028.
The proposal calls for at least 3.2 million acre-feet of water savings as the river’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, continue to face long-term strain.
Under the plan, the states would collectively reduce water use by 1.25 million acre-feet per year in 2027 and 2028, with California accounting for 440,000 acre-feet annually. The proposal also includes at least 700,000 acre-feet in additional conservation, with a goal of reaching 1 million acre-feet if federal funding is available.
Pasadena Councilmember Justin Jones, who chairs the city’s Municipal Services Committee, said the proposal underscores the need for cities to stay focused on water reliability.
“One of my focuses on the Municipal Services Committee has been making sure Pasadena is thinking ahead on water reliability,” Jones said. “That means continuing to strengthen and optimize our water portfolio, recharge the Raymond Basin, support conservation, and make sure Pasadena Water and Power is planning for a more constrained imported water future.”
An acre-foot, a standard measure used by water agencies, represents enough water to cover one acre of land one foot deep and is often described as sufficient for about two to three California households for a year.
The Colorado River supplies water to cities, farms and tribal communities across the Southwest and remains a key component of Southern California’s imported water system. The Lower Basin proposal is intended as an interim measure while the seven basin states and federal officials continue negotiating long-term management rules.
Years of drought, overuse and changing climate conditions have placed ongoing pressure on Lake Mead and Lake Powell. While recent wet years have provided some relief, water managers say they have not resolved the system’s long-term challenges.
Jones said the proposal should be seen as a signal for cities across the region to continue investing in local solutions.
“While the federal government and the basin states work on the bigger deal, the regional and local effort is where cities can actually move the needle,” Jones said. “Every city in the region has a role to play in conservation, stormwater capture, recycling water where feasible, and infrastructure investment that makes Southern California less vulnerable.”
According to Jones, locally the issue is not an immediate shortage but ensuring long-term reliability through investments in groundwater recharge, water recycling, conservation and infrastructure upgrades.
The proposal is the latest indication that negotiations over the Colorado River will remain a central issue for the West, with local agencies expected to play an increasingly important role in adapting to a more constrained water future.
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