Southern California Approves Plan to Keep Enough Water in Lake Mead for 600,000 Homes

As Lake Mead nears another historic low, Southern California water officials approved an agreement Tuesday to leave enough Colorado River water in the reservoir to supply about 600,000 homes, calling it a critical step in protecting the Southwest’s water future.

The Metropolitan Water District (MWD) voted Tuesday to approve an agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation that will pay the agency up to $65 million to leave as much as 200,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water in Lake Mead through the end of the year.

Metropolitan supplies imported water to agencies serving nearly 19 million people across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties.

Pasadena receives a portion of its imported water through Metropolitan while continuing to expand local water supplies through conservation, groundwater management and improvements to the Raymond Basin.

“The Colorado River basin is facing unprecedented climate pressures, and protecting it is a shared responsibility that demands innovative, cooperative solutions,” said Councilmember Justin Jones, who chairs the City Council’s Municipal Services Committee. “Keeping enough water in Lake Mead to supply 600,000 homes is a massive win for our region’s water security. Protecting the Colorado River takes collective action, and Pasadena is proud to do its part. By continuing to conserve water locally, increase our local water supply, and improve the Raymond Basin, we help strengthen the entire system we all rely on.”

Under the agreement, the Bureau of Reclamation will pay Metropolitan $325 for each acre-foot of water left in the reservoir. An acre-foot equals about 326,000 gallons of water, or enough to supply roughly three households for a year.

The funding comes through the Inflation Reduction Act’s Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program, which supports efforts to stabilize the river system as prolonged drought, shrinking snowpack and rising temperatures continue to strain water supplies throughout the West.

The agreement was made possible by decades of investments in water conservation, storage, recycling and groundwater recovery that have improved Southern California’s ability to withstand dry years while helping protect the broader Colorado River system.

The board also approved agreements with the Quechan Tribe and the Bard Water District that will allow the federal government to pay for up to 19,000 acre-feet of additional conserved agricultural water to remain in Lake Mead annually over the next two years.

The agreements come as the Colorado River Basin experiences one of its driest years on record. According to Metropolitan officials, this year’s historically low snowpack has accelerated the decline of Lake Mead, which sits only a few feet above its record-low elevation reached in 2022.

If water levels continue to fall, hydropower generation at Hoover Dam could be reduced by as much as 70%, threatening electricity supplies across the Southwest.

Metropolitan General Manager Shivaji Deshmukh described the agreements as an important short-term measure but cautioned they are not a permanent solution.

“We’re grateful to be in the position this year to help reduce the impacts of drought on the Colorado River system as it faces unprecedented challenges,” Deshmukh said in a statement, according to the Los Angeles Times. “But while these agreements provide important near-term support, lasting progress will require long-term solutions. If we all commit to reducing our use, we can avoid deeper cuts and create lasting change that will benefit future generations who rely on the Colorado River Basin.”

Officials said long-term stability will depend on a new operating agreement among the seven Colorado River Basin states before current management guidelines expire later this year.