WaterWired

CRS Report: 'Management of the Colorado River: Water Allocations, Drought, and the Federal Role'

Charles V. Stern, Pervaze A. Sheikh and Kristen Hite have combined for a an excellent CRS Report (4 April 2024) on 'Management of the Colorado River: Water Allocations, Drought, and the Federal Role'.

Download CRS_Report_Mgmt_CO_River Water_Allocations_Drought_Fed_Role_4April2024

This is a relatively long report so I will include the summary and a few figures. I would encourage you to read the whole report. Stern and Sheikh are top-shelf researchers when it comes to Western water issues. Kristen Hite adds the all-important Western water perspective

Click on graphics to enlarge them.

Summary

The Colorado River Basin covers more than 246,000 square miles in seven U.S. states (Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California) and Mexico. Pursuant to federal law, the Bureau of Reclamation (part of the Department of the Interior) manages much of the basin’s water supplies. Colorado River water is used primarily for agricultural irrigation and municipal and industrial (M&I) uses; it is also important for hydropower production, fish and wildlife, and recreational uses.

River Management
A collection of compacts, treaties, statutes, and other authorities govern Colorado River allocations and apportionments. The foundational management document, the Colorado River Compact of 1922, established a framework to apportion water supplies between the river’s Upper and Lower Basins, divided at Lee Ferry, AZ. The compact allocated 7.5 million acre-feet (MAF) annually to each basin, and a 1994 treaty made an additional 1.5 MAF in annual flows available to Mexico. A Supreme Court case and related decrees inform the Secretary of the Interior’s management of the delivery of all water below Hoover Dam.

Apportioned Colorado River water exceeds the river’s natural flows, and actual consumptive use plus other water losses (e.g., evaporation) typically exceeds flows. This imbalance, coupled with a long-term drought dating to 2000, has stressed basin water supplies. Reclamation closely tracks the status of two large reservoirs—Lake Powell in the Upper Basin and Lake Mead in the Lower Basin—as indicators of basin storage conditions. Since the onset of drought in the early 2000s, storage levels at these reservoirs have fallen. To alleviate these trends, water releases from both lakes have been tied to specific water storage levels. Since 2020, pursuant to previous agreements, Reclamation has reduced water deliveries in Arizona and Nevada and reduced its deliveries to Mexico. In the Upper Basin, Lake Powell’s storage also has continued to drop; some worry this could jeopardize hydropower generation at Glen Canyon Dam. Wet conditions in 2023 improved the short-term outlook for both reservoirs.

 

Efforts to Address Drought
The federal government has led multiple efforts to improve the basin’s water supply outlook, resulting in collaborative agreements in 2003 and 2007 and in the 2019 drought contingency plans (DCPs) for the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basins. In 2022, due to widespread concern about the basin’s long-term water supplies, Reclamation initiated a process to revise its near-term operational guidelines for river management. In May 2023, the Department of the Interior and basin states announced a consensus-based proposal in which the three Lower Basin states will conserve a total of 3 MAF prior to 2026, with 2.3 MAF of these reductions compensated by the federal government using previously appropriated funds. Reclamation formally adopted this proposal in March 2024.

Most of the agreements to conserve Colorado River Basin water supplies expire in 2026, and Reclamation is currently leading a process analyzing options for “long-term” (post-2026) operations. To date, Upper and Lower Basin leaders have been unable to agree on a preferred set of actions to guide long-term basin operations, and have submitted competing plans to the federal government. Reclamation plans to publish its preferred alternative for long-term operations by late 2024.

Congressional Role
Congress funds and oversees management of basin water and power facilities. Congress has enacted legislation affecting Colorado River waters (e.g., Indian water rights settlements, new water storage facilities) and authorizing water shortage mitigation (e.g., the DCPs and other related efforts). Section 50233 of P.L. 117-169 (popularly known as the Inflation Reduction Act) provided $4.0 billion for drought mitigation in the West. The majority of this funding is being used to compensate water contractors for recently agreed-upon delivery reductions. Congress may consider further amending existing authorities or funding mitigation activities for basin water shortages.

Plenty more to read! Enjoy!

“Water problems in the western United States, when viewed from afar, can seem tantalizingly easy to solve: all we need to do is turn off the fountains at the Bellagio, stop selling hay to China, ban golf, cut down the almond trees, and kill all the lawyers.” ― David Owen

CRS Report: 'Bureau of Reclamation Support for Water Storage Projects'

Charles V. Stern penned this CRS Report (1 April 2024 - but not an April Fools' joke):   'Bureau of Reclamation Support for Water Storage Projects'.

Download CRS_Report_USBR_Support_Water_Storage_Projects_1April2024

The entire report if not repeated here. Click on the graphics to enlarge them.

Summary
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation, part of the Department of the Interior) has for more than a century been involved in the construction and operations of water storage projects in the 17 arid and semiarid western states. In the past, Congress generally provided full, up-front funding for the construction of these projects through discretionary and supplemental appropriations to Reclamation, and project beneficiaries (e.g., irrigators, municipal water suppliers, and hydropower contractors) generally repaid their portion of project costs over a 40- to 50-year term.

Since the 1970s, Reclamation has built few new projects under its traditional authorities, but in recent years, Congress has added new authorities for Reclamation to support water storage construction. In Section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act; P.L. 114-322), Congress enacted a new authority for Reclamation to fund the study and/or construction of new surface and groundwater storage projects. Under Section 4007, funding for water storage projects may be used for two primary project types:

• Federally owned storage projects are surface water or groundwater storage projects to which the United States holds title and that were authorized for construction pursuant to reclamation law and regulations. The federal government may fund up to 50% of the cost for these projects.

• State-led storage projects are surface water or groundwater storage projects to be constructed, operated, and maintained by states or political subdivisions. The federal government may fund up to 25% of the costs of these projects.

To receive study or construction funding under this authority, the Secretary of the Interior first, among other requirements, recommends specific projects and funding levels to Congress, and Congress in turn decides whether to designate those projects by name in an enacted appropriations act. From 2018 to 2020, 13 projects received funding under the WIIN Act. Since January 2021, only projects that were recommended for construction prior to that date have been eligible for ongoing Administration construction funding allocations under Section 4007. In the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, also referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; P.L. 117-58), Congress expanded these authorities and provided Reclamation with additional funding of $1.05 billion for these projects.

Congress also enacted new authorities in the IIJA for Reclamation to provide grants that support the construction of “small” (i.e., less than 30,000 acre-feet), nonfederally owned surface and groundwater storage projects. Reclamation may also support small water storage and conveyance projects that increase drought resiliency using grant authorities enacted in 2010 under P.L. 111-11. These drought resiliency projects are funded through Reclamation’s Drought Response Program. While the two programs target similar project types, their eligible recipients, maximum project costs, and federal cost share requirements differ.

Issues for Congress related to Reclamation water storage projects may include whether to extend and/or amend expiring authorities, such as those enacted under the WIIN Act and/or IIJA, or whether to enact new authorities, as well as whether to increase regular and/or supplemental funding for these projects. Congress may consider what levels of funding, if any, are adequate for these projects and what financing mechanisms to employ (e.g., appropriate cost shares, repayment). In the 118th Congress, H.R. 215 would reauthorize the WIIN Act’s storage authorities through the end of FY2028, while S. 2162 would make significant changes to these authorities.

 

Issues for Congress

Section 4007 Reauthorization
Congress has typically engaged with the Administration’s recommendations for Section 4007 water storage construction projects in appropriations action. As previously noted, appropriations under the authority of Section 4007 of the WIIN Act may not be allocated to individual projects until they are approved by name in enacted legislation. While Congress has approved most prior WIIN Act project allocation recommendations, the 116th Congress did not approve several recommended allocations for one project (the Shasta Dam and Reservoir Enlargement Project) during the Trump Administration; this effectively blocked its construction. Since 2021, Reclamation has continued to recommend funding allocations for construction projects that met the WIIN Act’s feasibility determination deadline of January 1, 2021. 

Some Members of Congress have proposed reauthorization and/or amendment of the Section 4007 authority. In the 118th Congress, H.R. 215 would reauthorize the WIIN Act’s Section 4007 storage authorities through the end of FY2028. It would also make the Shasta Dam and Reservoir Enlargement project eligible for unallocated Section 4007 funding.15 Another bill, S. 2162, would also reauthorize Section 4007 (including the authorization of $750 million through FY2029) but would make major changes to the authority. Among other things, it would make certain “public benefits” for these projects nonreimbursable16 and would add a new project category for “naturalwater retention and release projects.” It would also cap federal support for nonfederal projects under the authority at $250 million and would create a formal reporting process for recommending individual projects to Congress for construction authorization.17 In the future, Congress may continue to weigh in on recommended storage projects under the Section 4007 authority through the appropriations process or to alter the current process with required annual reporting or other mechanisms that involve the authorization committees in these decisions.

Authorities for Smaller Water Storage Projects
Apart from Section 4007 authorities for larger projects, Congress may also consider the status of the temporary (FY2022-FY2026) authority and funding for the Small Water Storage Project grant program authorized in the IIJA and whether to extend this authority beyond the time horizon currently authorized. It may also consider the status and mechanism for supporting drought resiliency projects (technically authorized under the Bureau’s WaterSMART authorities)18 and the status of temporary cost share authorities under the IRA. Demand for both programs, and reconciling differences between the authorities (e.g., eligible entities, potential for cost share waivers, project caps), could be a driver for future legislative interest in one or both programs. 

Funding and Implementation

Funding for Reclamation to study and construct water storage projects has increased significantly over the past decade. As construction on surface and groundwater storage projects continues across the West and recent influxes of supplemental funding (i.e., IIJA funding) are expended, stakeholders may ask Congress to enact new funding to complete these projects and start others. How and whether to make this funding available, and what (if any) changes and other requirements (e.g., reporting) should accompany this funding, are likely to be of interest to Congress.

Enjoy!

"When we started the meeting we said we wanted an open dialogue, you weren’t supposed to take that seriously except by openly supporting our proposal." - @ass_deans

E.J. Hanford's Environmental Science Bulletin Board - Supplemental Listing - 3 April 2024

Josh's Water Jobs and More! 2 April 2024 > 163 Jobs! https://bit.ly/4aHDWlD

Elaine  has a supplemental Environmental Science Bulletin Board listing this week. She is responsible for all the listings below this line except for the quote. I added Josh's Water Jobs above. 

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Environmental Science Bulletin Board - Supplemental Listing 3 April 2024

Perspective:  Seven hard truths about the “climate crisis” – they forgot number 8 – it is not real

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/seven-hard-truths-about-the-climate-crisis/ar-BB1kSjxA 

Illegal aliens becoming increasingly more aggressive at US Border – increasing risk to Border Agents

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/migrants-becoming-more-aggressive-at-us-border-memo/ar-BB1kIgNd 

Hyundai bringing back internal combustion engine division

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/hyundai-to-bring-back-internal-combustion-engines-after-dismantling-the-division/ar-BB1kGeKI 

Scare-mongering about avian flu – devastating economic loss due to deliberate cull of poultry – headline should include that person diagnosed has only exhibited mild symptoms – NO need for another pandemic

• https://insideclimatenews.org/news/02042024/todays-climate-bird-flu-migration-disease/ 
• https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/avian-flu-devastates-californias-poultry-farms-as-new-wave-of-outbreaks-roils-industry
• https://apnews.com/article/disease-outbreaks-iowa-business-health-bird-flu-2c9ca4b3d04f3c0269a1fee233daa3a6 

Antibiotic resistance increasing on a global scale complicated by antibiotic tolerance

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/looming-global-crisis-rising-tide-of-antibiotic-resistance/ar-BB1jvA1s 
• Paper:  https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2310852121 
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/looming-behind-antibiotic-resistance-is-another-huge-threat-antibiotic-tolerance/ar-AA1d4JtJ 
• Paper:  https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1008892 

Plastic food packaging laden with endocrine & metabolic system disrupting chemicals – up to 9,000 chemicals in one sample of cling film

• https://cen.acs.org/business/consumer-products/Plastic-food-packaging-contains-thousands/102/web/2024/03 
• Paper:  https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.3c08250 

Not just Canada continuing financial support for fossil fuels

• https://cleantechnica.com/2024/03/28/canada-continues-massive-financial-support-for-fossil-fuels/ 
• https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2023/08/24/fossil-fuel-subsidies-surged-to-record-7-trillion 
• https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-proposals-to-reduce-fossil-fuel-subsidies-january-2024 

Biocrust of the Arizona desert soils

• https://news.asu.edu/20231121-solutions-secret-web-life-our-soil

14 evolutionary traps for humans include:  short-termism, overconsumption, biosphere disconnect & lack of social cohesion, large-scale contagion – technological threats (including AI) & political polarization

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/study-identifies-the-14-dead-ends-threatening-humanity/ar-AA1lQSPA 
• https://phys.org/news/2023-11-potential-evolutionary-dead-humanity-ways.html 
• Paper:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10645130/ 

Applying the “S” curve to EVs – “zoomed” past the 5 sales mark – does not preclude slowdowns & setbacks – tipping point in US in 2021 but sales only at 8% despite massive federal subsidies

• https://cleantechnica.com/2024/03/28/the-ev-revolution-has-passed-a-tipping-point/ 
• https://cleantechnica.com/2024/03/28/biden-harris-administration-announces-62-million-to-lower-battery-recycling-costs-across-the-nation/ 

BLM announced final rule to curb waste of natural gas during production on federal & Tribal lands

• https://cleantechnica.com/2024/03/28/u-s-interior-department-finalizes-rule-to-reduce-oil-gas-waste-on-public-tribal-lands/ 
• Rule:  https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-03/BLM-Waste-Prevention%20Final-Rule-1004-AE79-Unofficial-Prepublication.pdf 

Skepticism is warranted toward widespread use of EVs in the future – compelling argument for hybrids

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/a-warning-sign-for-our-ev-future/ar-BB1kTyE6

Biochar pros & cons of production & use for carbon sequestration

• https://insideclimatenews.org/news/29032024/biochar-carbon-sequestration/ 
• https://www.enviro.or.id/2022/10/biochar-land-carbon-sequestration-a-benefit-or-a-bother/ 
• https://www.carbongold.com/biochar-and-enriched-biochar/ 
• Paper:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7718465/ 

Raising false alarms about “climate crisis” & ignoring how policies are contributing to looming electric-grid crisis 

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/opinion-the-coming-electricity-crisis/ar-BB1kIiEW 

Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) only partially replenished after failed attempt to lower gas prices in 2021-2022 by releasing 180M barrels – claiming $76.98 per barrel is a “good deal” compared to $24 per barrel in 2020 – SPR is still at lowest level since 1984

• https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOECESER/bulletins/39318fa 
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/biden-admin-buys-millions-of-barrels-to-refill-oil-stockpile-but-dems-ripped-trump-for-refill-plan-at-lower-prices/ar-BB1kJpla 
• https://dailycaller.com/2022/10/19/flashback-schumer-called-trumps-suggestion-to-fill-up-strategic-petroleum-reserve-a-big-oil-bailout/ 

Toward an improved understanding of rattlesnakes

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/rattlesnakes-on-santa-catalina-island-have-learned-that-it-pays-to-be-unusually-aggressive/ar-BB1kKd9k 

Legacy site of the Atomic Age in St Louis County, Missouri

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/after-building-the-atomic-bomb-the-government-dumped-deadly-toxic-waste-in-a-quiet-suburb/ar-BB1kLndG 

The waxing and waning of the ozone “holes” results from natural processes despite 35-year CFC ban

• https://dailysceptic.org/2024/03/28/record-ozone-holes-reported-despite-35-year-cfc-ban/ 
• Paper:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-42637-0 

SCOTUS to decide whether failure of federal government to faithfully execute the laws to protect the US precludes Texas from doing so 

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/opinion-do-constitutional-restrictions-apply-to-texas-but-not-to-biden/ar-BB1kKAfk 

Perceptions of common risk associated with PFAS forever chemicals – “significant knowledge gap” 

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careers/researchers-raise-concerns-after-surveying-americans-about-common-risks-a-significant-knowledge-gap/ar-BB1jhp1R 

Poor parenting & overtreating children with therapy creating generation of fearful & helpless kids

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/parents-overtreating-children-with-therapy-and-creating-generation-of-fearful-helpless-kids-author-says/ar-BB1j9Ar7 

EV tires cause 1,80 times more particulate pollution than gasoline exhausts

• https://www.emissionsanalytics.com/news/gaining-traction-losing-tread 

Superfund process started with NPL listing of uranium mining sites on Navajo lands in northeastern Arizona – Lukachukai Mountains Mining District – long and expensive process to follow

• https://insideclimatenews.org/news/26032024/navajo-nation-lukachukai-mountains-abandoned-uranium-mines-superfund/ 

Using biological “bug bombs” dropped from drones to fight invasive plant species in West Virginia

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/researcher-employs-unique-solution-to-region-s-rampant-issue-with-invasive-species-we-currently-don-t-have-a-tool-like-this/ar-BB1kJu0CA

SCOTUS refuses to hear appeal case from worker fired by Big Pharma & denied jobless benefits after refusing to be vaxxed for religious beliefs

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/supreme-court-rejects-case-from-fired-worker-denied-jobless-benefits-after-refusing-vaccine/ar-BB1kSWjR

State Senate in Louisiana unanimously passes bill to ban WHO, WEF & UN from asserting any “jurisdiction or power within the state of Louisiana”

• https://nationalfile.com/southern-state-senate-preemptively-strips-who-wef-un-of-all-authority/ 

As organic farming increases acreage/number, adjacent conventional farms use more & more pesticides - spillover

• https://news.ucsb.edu/2024/021400/organic-farms-can-have-mixed-effects-pesticide-use-depending-their-neighbors 
• Paper:  https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adf2572 

State Senate in Louisiana unanimously passes bill to ban WHO, WEF & UN from asserting any “jurisdiction or power within the state of Louisiana”

• https://nationalfile.com/southern-state-senate-preemptively-strips-who-wef-un-of-all-authority/ 

Any large gathering of humans including festival attendees are at risk of natural events such as strong storms – increased frequency of disasters result from actions of humans – not “climate change”

• https://insideclimatenews.org/news/31032024/todays-climate-music-festivals-extreme-weather/ 

Tennessee legislation would classify any food with vaccine or vaccine materials added to them as a drug – concerns on research on putting immunity boosters into lettuce – legislation is precautionary

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/tennessee-moves-to-classify-vaccine-lettuce-as-a-drug/ar-BB1kSNyx 

US DOE to subsidize “endless” source of energy from enhanced geothermal systems - $60M for 3 projects to demonstrate efficacy & scalability – OMG:  optimistic goal of providing 10% of power demand by 2050

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/department-of-energy-announces-60m-investment-into-essentially-endless-source-of-energy-these-projects-will-help-us-advance/ar-BB1kUQGn 
• https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/02/geothermal-energy-electricity 
• Report Summary:  https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-unveils-roadmap-next-generation-geothermal-power 
• Report:  https://liftoff.energy.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LIFTOFF_DOE_NextGen_Geothermal_v14.pdf 

Widely-used household disinfectants, glues & textiles contain quaternary compounds and organophosphates that may cause neurological damage to brain cells during vital stages of grain development – exposure through ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/potential-brain-cell-damage-from-common-sanitizers-and-disinfectants-highlighted-in-new-research/ar-BB1kUevk 

$7.5 Billion dollars allocated for subsidizing EV charging network – but only 7 stations built in 4 states – only 38 operational individual charging spots is a very poor result

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/biden-admin-threw-billions-at-ev-charging-stations-but-only-a-handful-have-been-built/ar-BB1kT29R 

Sonoma County, California, considering initiative to phase out livestock operations & concentrated agricultural feeding operations (CAFOs)

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/california-county-inches-closer-to-ban-on-large-livestock-farms/ar-BB1kTP6u

Import of live African elephants and hunting trophies restricted in the US under strengthened Endangered Species Act – new rule effective 1 May 2024

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/import-of-live-african-elephants-and-hunting-trophies-restricted-in-the-us/ar-BB1kWwPn 
• Rule:  https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/01/2024-06417/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-revision-to-the-section-4d-rule-for-the-african 

39 illegal aliens of more than 200 who rioted and crashed the Sothern Border will not get reduced bond to ensure they face charges in court

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/migrants-charged-in-border-wall-riot-will-stay-in-jail/ar-BB1kXaxb 

Apple is shutting down its 10-year EV project – never produced a single vehicle 

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/a-salute-and-a-cigarette-elon-musk-reacts-to-report-that-apple-s-10-year-ev-project-is-dead-without-selling-a-single-car-3-top-electric-vehicle-stocks-that-could-charge-ahead-now/ar-BB1kTzY7

Assessment of US landfills using airborne surveys reveals impact of point source emissions of methane

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/study-finds-landfill-point-source-emissions-have-an-outsized-impact-and-present-opportunity-to-tackle-us-waste-methane/ar-BB1kHZcq 

New Jersey imposes “EV Tax” of $250 annually to begin offsetting loss in fuel tax revenue – pay up front for four years of tax & registration

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/new-jersey-introduces-annual-ev-fee-punishing-owners-who-go-green/ar-BB1kXXZe 

The social & economic consequences of net-zero madness

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/nobody-is-buying-into-the-net-zero-madness/ar-BB1kWsrU 

US EPA wanted to clean up steel mills & cut toxic emissions – then Rust Belt Senators got involved

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/the-epa-wanted-to-clean-up-steel-mills-then-a-group-of-rust-belt-senators-got-involved/ar-BB1kVqUm 

FDA says toxic PFAS forever chemicals "are no longer being sold for use in food packaging in the US" – manufactures will need around 18 months to use up supplies of old food containers

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/food-packaging-made-with-pfas-forever-chemicals-no-longer-sold-in-u-s-fda-confirms/ar-BB1jLQmf

"The journalism dean is pleased to announce they have hired another retired print journalist to revamp our journalism major for the digital era and to give our students real world experiences! You should hear their stories about reporting during the Reagan era!" - @ass_deans

Josh's Water Jobs and More! 2 April 2024 > 163 Jobs!

From Josh: 

I’m behind this week because of travel, so this is a short list. Hope to be back to normal if not this coming week, the following.

1) Josh's Jobs

Featured jobs 1) Local recruitment: Geospatial Analyst – Watermarq (London/Oxford, UK): Until filled   2) Local recruitment: Chief Executive Officer – California Water Data Consortium (California, USA/Home-based): 28 April Highlighted 3) Postdoctoral Fellow - Water, Conflicts and Resilience – International Water Management Institute (IWMI) (Amman, Jordan/Home-based): 10 April   4) Local recruitment: Executive Director – Collective Action for a Water Secure World (C4W) (United States/Home-based): 6 May   5) Technical Program Manager, Water Sustainability, Data Centers – Google(San Francisco, CA/Chicago, IL, USA): Until filled Deadline today (2 April)! 6) PRC Wetlands and Migratory Waterbirds Specialist (International Expert) – Asian Development Bank (ADB) (China): 2 April   7) Arabic speakers: Shelter/WASH Team leader – Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) (Benghazi, Libya): 2 April   8) Project Lead- Agriculture and watershed expert – Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS) (Various, India): 2 April   9) Sri Lanka nationals: Environmental and Sustainability Officer – International Water Management Institute (IWMI) (Battaramulla, Sri Lanka): 2 April   10) Kazakhstan nationals: Consultant on Analysis of Study Programmes in Water Resources, Water Management, and Water Use – Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (Astana, Kazakhstan): 2 April   11) China nationals: PRC Wetlands and Migratory Waterbirds Specialist – Asian Development Bank (ADB) (China): 2 April   12) Local recruitment: Hydrogeologist – North Carolina Division of Water Resources (Raleigh, NC, USA): 2 April Jobs by Region Africa jobs Asia jobs Europe jobs Latin America and Caribbean jobs Oceania jobs North America jobs Home-based/Remote jobs Minimum years experience requested 0-2 years (See all) 13) Arabic speakers: Communications and Advocacy Assistant – Blue Peace Middle East (Amman, Jordan): 8 April   14) Arabic speakers: Technical Assistant – Blue Peace Middle East(Amman, Jordan): 8 April   15) Australia nationals: 2025 Graduate Development Program – Government of Australia (Various, Australia): 15 April   16) Local recruitment: Graduate Officer, Evidence Team – Thames21(London, UK/Home-based): 12 April   17) Local recruitment: Project Officer – West Cumbria Rivers Trust(Keswick, UK): 14 April   18) Local recruitment: Data & Monitoring Officer – West Cumbria Rivers Trust (Keswick, UK): 14 April   19) Local recruitment: Associate Governmental Program Analyst – California State Water Resources Control Board (Sacramento, CA, USA/Home-based): 8 April   20) Local recruitment: Assistant Environmental Analyst – Hudson River Stewardship – NEIWPCC (Staatsburg, NY, USA): 21 April   21) Local recruitment: Water Conservation Specialist – City of Chandler(Chandler, AZ, USA): 16 April   22) Local recruitment: Water Purification Plant Operator Trainee/II – Kern County Water Agency (Bakersfield, CA, USA): 9 April   23) NC Freshwater Applied Scientist – The Nature Conservancy (TNC)(Durham, NC, USA): Until filled   24) Local recruitment: Water Resource Agent/Sr – Idaho Department of Water Resources (Boise, ID, US): 14 April   25) Local recruitment: Water Treatment Tech/Sr. Tech – Asset Management – Denver Water (Denver, CO, USA): 12 April   26) Local recruitment: Water Quality Grant Analyst (Program Analyst 2) – Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (Portland, OR, USA): 14 April 3-4 years (See all) 27) Spanish speakers: Oficial de Gobernanza del Agua y Recursos Naturales – Counterpart International (Dominican Republic): Until filled   28) Natural Resources Officer (Climate Change Adaptation) – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Rome, Italy): 15 April   29) (Senior) Associate - Agribusiness Food and Water (ECA MENA) – FMO(The Hague, Netherlands): Until filled   30) Tamil/Hindu speakers: Communication Specialist – Mission Samriddhi(Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India): 15 April   31) Local recruitment: Water Resources Specialist – Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds (Moose Jaw, SK, Canada): 15 April   32) Local recruitment: Project Manager – McKenzie Watershed Alliance(Springfield, OR, USA): 12 April   33) Senior Associate, Ocean Governance – Pew Charitable Trusts(Washington, D.C., USA): 26 April   34) Local recruitment: Senior Water Resource Control Engineer – California State Water Resources Control Board (Oakland, CA, USA/Home-based): 16 April   35) Local recruitment: Information Officer – Resource Room Coordinator – NEIWPCC (Burlington, VT, USA): 21 April   36) Local recruitment: Water Conservation Specialist – Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (Billings, MT, USA): 15 April 5-9 years (See all) 37) Project Manager, Horizon EUROLakes – Wetlands International(Netherlands/Belgium): Until filled   38) Team Leader - Hydro-Diplomacy Expert (F/M) – Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation (Tashkent, Uzbekistan): 8 April   39) Investment Operations Specialists / Senior Specialists – Water – Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) (Beijing, China): Until filled   40) Programme Officer (Environment and Climate) – Global Compact Office (United Nations) (New York, NY, USA): 11 April   41) Regional Liaison Officer (LAC) – United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) (Panama City, Panama): 12 April   42) Policy Officer – International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)(Gland, Switzerland): 15 April   43) Head, Economic and Environmental Department (S3) – Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan): 15 April   44) Senior Environmental Engineer – The World Bank (Lilongwe, Malawi): 12 April   45) Senior Programme Manager – Aga Khan Agency For Habitat India (Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India): 11 April   46) Tamil/Hindu speakers: District Program Manager – Mission Samriddhi(Various, India): 15 April   47) Local recruitment: Engineering and Irrigation Specialist – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Tamale, Ghana): 11 April   48) Pakistan nationals: Water Management Specialist – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Islamabad, Pakistan): 11 April   49) Officer, Preventing Ocean Plastics – Pew Charitable Trusts (Washington, D.C., USA): 29 April   50) Local recruitment: Wastewater Treatment Operator III – Liberty Utilities(Goodyear, AZ, USA): 25 April   51) Local recruitment: Nonpoint Source Pollution Control and Water Quality Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) – Washington Department of Ecology(Lacey, WA, USA): 8 April   52) Local recruitment: Environmental Analyst – National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) (USA/Home-based): Until filled   53) Local recruitment: Permit Development Unit Supervisor (Environmental Engineer 5) – Washington Department of Ecology (Spokane, WA, USA): 10 April 10+ years (See all) 54) Regional Programme Manager – Kenya – Wetlands International(Nairobi, Kenya): 5 April Not specified (See all) 55) Programme Specialist, UpLink – World Economic Forum (WEF) (Geneva, Switzerland): Until filled   56) German speakers: Fachkraft für den Zivilen Friedensdienst (ZFD) für die Beratung zu Stärkung sozialer Kontrollinstanzen in Umweltkonflikten – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia): 14 April   56) Local recruitment: Operations Team- Programme Supervisor – Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT) (Stoke Climsland, Callington, UK): 14 April   57) Local recruitment: Education and Engagement Manager – Wessex Rivers Trust (Salisbury, UK/Home-based): 10 April   58) Local recruitment: Wildlife and Wetlands Officer – Worcestershire Wildlife Trust (WWT) (Worcester/Droitwich, UK): 10 April   59) Local recruitment: GIS and Data Officer – Severn Rivers Trust(Martley, Worcester, UK): 14 April   60) Local recruitment: Community Engagement Officer – River Waveney Trust (Bungay, UK/Home-based): 15 April   61) Local recruitment: Community Engagement Officer – Ribble Rivers Trust (Clitheroe, UK): 16 April   62) Local recruitment: Mid Fraser Regional Assistant – Rivershed Society of British Columbia (Various, BC, Canada): 14 April   63) Local recruitment: Watershed Manager – Moose Jaw River Watershed Stewards Inc. (Moose Jaw, SK, Canada): 15 April   64) Local recruitment: Pure Water Partners Program Coordinator – McKenzie Watershed Alliance (Springfield, OR, USA): 12 April   65) Lake Superior Collaborative Program Coordinator – University of Wisconsin-Madison (Ashland, WI, USA): 14 April   66) Local recruitment: Water Supply Planner – Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (Richmond, VA, USA): 9 April   67) Local recruitment: Project Engineer III/IV- Water Resources Planning – Colorado Springs Utilities (Colorado Springs, CO, USA): 10 April   68) Principal Associate, Coastal Wetlands and Coral Reefs – Pew Charitable Trusts (Washington, D.C., USA): 1 May   69) Local recruitment: Sales Manager (North America) – Bluefield Research(United States): Until filled Academic Professors/Lecturers (See all) 70) Alpine cryospheric hydrology – INRAE (Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France): 12 April   71) Assistant Professor of Hydroinformatics (tenure-track) – Estonian University of Life Sciences (Tartu, Estonia): 15 April   72) Associate Professor or Professor in Environmental Change & Health – London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (London, UK): 15 April   73) Associated Professor: Management and protection of water resources – University of Peloponnese (Patra, Greece): 15 April   74) Associate Professor or Professor in Environmental Change & Health – London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (London, UK): 15 April   75) Associate Professor in Groundwater Management in the Bedrock with specialization in Coupled Processes – KTH Royal Institute of Technology(Stockholm, Sweden): 16 April   76) Lecturer/Senior Lecturer Physical Geography – University of New South Wales (Canberra ACT, Australia): 16 April   77) Local recruitment: Visiting Assistant or Associate Professor of Environmental Geology-Geographic Information Systems – New Mexico Highlands University (Las Vegas, NM, USA): 16 April Postdocs (See all) 78) Postdoc (80%) in Engineering Science: Development of Constructed Wetlands for the Mitigation of Stormwater Runoff – University of Luxembourg(Luxembourg): 11 April   79) Postdoctoral Research Associate – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Vienna, Austria): 10 April   80) 2-Year Postdoctoral Fellowship on Aquatic Science and Technology – Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology)(Switzerland): 11 April   81) Postdoc Ways of Water - Overcoming Conflicting Sustainability Pathways in the Port of Amsterdam – Universiteit van Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Netherlands): 10 May   82) Postdoctoral fellow - Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (apply through MERIT Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme 2nd Call) – Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (Prague, Czechia): 15 April   83) Postdoc Position: Modelling of Extreme Droughts in the European Mountains – Utrecht University (Utrecht, Netherlands): 15 April   84) UNESCO-UNEP-funded Postdoctoral Research Associate, Modeling Coastal Zone Nutrient Impact – Washington State University (Vancouver, BC, Canada): Until filled Researchers/Other 85) Senior Researcher / Researcher - Jahez Project Leader – International Water Management Institute (IWMI) (Amman, Jordan/Home-based): 10 April   86) South Africa nationals: Research Officer - Future Creative Technologies for Agricultural Innovation – International Water Management Institute (IWMI) (Pretoria, South Africa): 5 April   87) Assistant Researcher – University of California-Los Angeles (Los Angeles/Pasadena, CA, USA): 12 April   88) Local recruitment: Restoration Ecologist (Research Support Specialist II) – Cornell University (Albany, NY, USA): 5 May WASH (SEE ALL) 0-2 years (See all) 89) Arabic speakers: WASH and Shelter MEAL Assistant – Islamic Relief(Bab Alhawa, Syria): 4 April   90) EU Wash Project Officer Software – Plan International (Arawa Bougainville, Papua New Guinea): 5 April   91) EU Wash Infrastructure Officer (Hardware) – Plan International (Arawa Bougainville, Papua New Guinea): 5 April   92) Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Field Officer – Acción Contra El Hambre(Tyre, Lebanon): 15 April   93) Venezuela nationals: Oficial de soporte WASH – Lutheran World Federation (Delta Amacuro, Venezuela): 7 April   94) Palestine nationals: Wash Officer – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Gaza, Palestine): 10 April   95) Palestine nationals: Wash Officer #2 – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Gaza, Palestine): 10 April   96) Palestine nationals: Wash Officer #3 – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Gaza, Palestine): 10 April   97) Local recruitment: Small Utility Consultant I – Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) (Nevada, USA/Home-based): 15 April   98) Local recruitment: Small Utility Consultant I – Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) (Nevada, USA/Home-based): 15 April 3-4 years (See all) 99) WASH - Shelter Coordinator (M/F) – Solidarités International (Kyiv, Ukraine): Until filled   100) WASH Program Manager, Ukraine – Samaritan's Purse (Kyiv, Ukraine): Until filled   101) Local recruitment: WASH Specialist Palestine – Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) (Palestine): 10 April   102) Armenia nationals: WASH Specialist (UNICEF) – United Nations Volunteers (UNV) (Yerevan, Armenia): 9 April   103) Benin nationals: WASH officer (UNICEF) – United Nations Volunteers (UNV) (Parakou, Benin): 10 April 5-9 years (See all) 104) French speakers: Expert Regional Eau, Hygiene, Assainissement (H/F) – Solidarités International (Dakar, Senegal): Until filled   105) WASH Specialist – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh): 10 April   106) WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Consultant – Farsight Africa Group (South Sudan/Uganda): 3 April   107) Arabic speakers: WASH and Shelter MEAL Officer – Islamic Relief(Bab Alhawa, Syria): 4 April   108) Spanish speakers: WASH Specialist – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Panama City, Panama): 8 April   109) Madagascar nationals: WASH Specialist (Monitoring & Evaluation) – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Antananarivo, Madagascar): 9 April   110) Local recruitment: Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Manager – WaterAid (Abuja, Nigeria): 9 April 10+ years (See all) 111) WASH PM – HEKS/EPER (Kyiv, Ukraine): Until filled   112) Local recruitment: Urban Water Supply and Utility Manager – WaterAid (Lagos, Nigeria): 9 April Not specified 113) French speakers: Responsable Programme EHA (H/F) – Solidarités International (Nantes, France): Until filled   114) Program Manager Wash & Shelter (M/F) – Solidarités International(Kharkiv, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine): Until filled   115) French speakers: Officier WASH Construction – Mercy Corps(Bangui, Central African Republic): Until filled   116) French speakers: Wash/Shelter officer – Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) (Maradi, Niger): 10 April   117) EU Wash Project Coordinator – Plan International (Arawa Bougainville, Papua New Guinea): 5 April   118) Local recruitment: Research and Evidence Project Manager – WaterAid (London, UK): 12 April   119) Local recruitment: Small Utility Consultant I – Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) (West Sacramento, CA, USA): 29 April   120) Democratic Republic of the Congo nationals: MANAGER WASH PCI (Prevention et contrôle de l’infection) – International Rescue Committee (IRC) (Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo): Until filled   121) Local recruitment: Shelter & WASH Technical Assistant – Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) (Kyiv, Ukraine): 10 April Consultancies (SEE ALL) 122) WASH International Consultant – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh): 8 April   123) Wastewater Expert – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) (Home-based): 7 April   124) Construction Water/Civil Engineer – Asian Development Bank (ADB)(Uzbekistan): 10 April   125) Consultancy for Mapping of Blue Economy (BE) Institutions and Experts in the IGAD Region – Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)(Djibouti): 11 April   126) Aquaculture Trainer – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Banjul, The Gambia): 11 April   127) Consultancy for Developing Draft IGAD Regional Plastic Pollution Prevention Strategy and Implementation Plan in a Circular Economy Model – Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) (Djibouti): 11 April   128) Consultancy - Hygiene Promotion Assistant – Save the Children(Indonesia): 7 April   129) Mongolia nationals: PMO Water Supply and Sewage Engineer – Asian Development Bank (ADB) (Mongolia): 10 April   130) Nepal nationals: Environmental Laboratory Support Consultant – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Kathmandu, Nepal): 5 April   131) Nepal nationals: Environmental Monitoring & Surveillance Consultant – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Kathmandu, Nepal): 5 April   132) Turkish speakers: Request For Expressions of Interest (REOI) (Consulting Services – Individual (Technical) Consultant Selection – Agence Française de Développement (AFD) (Ankara, Türkiye): 15 April   133) Sri Lanka nationals: Consultant - Expert in Natural Resource Management – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Sri Lanka): 9 April RFP (SEE ALL) 134) RFP: Empowerment and skill-building of adolescents and young people to make them more aware of and resilient to the effects of climate change and environmental degradation and become climate champions – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Georgia): 10 April   135) RFP - Evaluation of Command Area Development & Water Management (CAD&WM) And Re-Construction of Old Field Channel Works In Irrigated Command (RCOFC) – Water Resources Department of Odisha(Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India): 16 April   136) RFP - WaterAid India Baseline Survey on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in select slums of Bangalore, Karnataka – WaterAid (Bangalore, Karnataka, India): 7 April Internships (SEE ALL) 137) Local recruitment: Water Resources Intern – Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (Peterborough, ON, Canada): 11 April   138) Local recruitment: Lower Fraser Regional Assistant – Rivershed Society of British Columbia (Fraser Valley/Vancouver, BC, Canada): 14 April   139) Local recruitment: Upper Fraser Regional Assistant – Rivershed Society of British Columbia (Various, BC, Canada): 14 April   140) Local recruitment: USGS Internship in Turbulence Thresholds for Cyanobacterial Blooms – U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (Sacramento, CA, USA): 20 May Scholarships/Assistantships 141) Ecosystem assessment of the Tristan da Cunha Islands fisheries, Ecology and Conservation PhD – University of Exeter (Exeter, UK): 12 April   142) PhD position in Holocene palaeoflood research – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Netherlands): 14 April   143) PhD position: Redesigning governance systems to achieve climate-robust landscapes – Wageningen University & Research (Wageningen, Netherlands): 10 April   144) Doctoral scholarship holder dynamics of climate extreme events – University of Antwerp (Antwerp, Belgium): 10 April   145) PhD position on Dissemination routes of antimicrobial resistance and pathogens among terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems in agri-urban catchments – INRAE (Vic, Spain): 14 April   146) PhD position on Assessment and prediction of the toxicity of pharmaceuticals on surface water and sediment model organisms – INRAE(L'Isle-d'Abeau, France): 14 April   147) PhD position on Effect Directed Analysis on microbial communities as indicators of chemical and ecotoxicological quality status of the aquatic environment – Institute of Environmental Assessments and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) (Barcelona, Spain): 14 April   148) PhD position on Molecular and phenotypic thresholds of antibiotics to protect aquatic microbial community structure and functioning – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) (Leipzig, Germany): 14 April   149) PhD position on Influence of colonizing substrata on the dynamics of antimicrobial resistance and pathogens in fluvial ecosystems – Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes, Consejo Superior deInvestigaciones científicas (CEAB-CSIC) (Blanes, Spain): 14 April   150) PhD position on Dissemination routes of antimicrobial resistance and pathogens among terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems in agri-urban catchments – Vic–Central University of Catalonia (Vic, Spain): 14 April   151) PhD position on Context-dependency on the fate and ecotoxicological effects of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance on river sediment – University of Gothenburg (Gothenburg, Sweden): 14 April   152) PhD position on Assessing and predicting the fate of model pharmaceutical compounds and their transformation products in soils & towards the aquatic systems – Aeiforia (Gariga/Podenzano, Province of Piacenza, Italy): 14 April   153) PhD position for the assessment of contaminants of emerging concern in marine waters – Institute of Environmental Assessments and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) (Barcelona, Spain): 15 April   154) PhD call for ISO-TAISE: Isotopic tracing of atmospheric rivers and Irish storm extremes – Trinity College Dublin (Dublin, Ireland): 15 April   155) PhD: Seismic Monitoring of Crustal Water Circulation for Addressing Contemporary Societal Challenges – Università degli Studi di Padova(Padova, Italy): 15 April   156) PhD: Geophysical surveys for the characterization of glacial and periglacial environment – Università degli Studi di Padova (Padova, Italy): 8 April   157) PhD: Advanced remote sensing techniques as a support tool for geotechnical modelling of geohazards – Università degli Studi di Padova(Padova, Italy): 8 April   158) PhD: How will different storm types affect future hydro-climatic extremes? – Università degli Studi di Padova (Padova, Italy): 8 April   159) PhD: Recent environmental changes in the North Atlantic revealed by cold-water coral geochemistry and implications for the Arctic warming (ICE-CORALS) – Università degli Studi di Padova (Padova, Italy): 8 April   160) Ph.D (Geochemistry) - Release of inherited heavy-metal pollutants by the Aulne estuary sedimentary banks – IFREMER (Brittany, France): 15 April Fellowships 161) U.S. nationals: EPA Environmental Health and Water Quality Research Fellowship – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Washington, D.C., USA): 12 April   162) U.S. nationals: EPA Research & Analysis on Issues Related to National Water Programs Fellowship – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)(Washington, D.C., USA): 12 April   163) Local recruitment: NOAA Advancing Exposure Assessments of Stormwater Contaminants Fellowship – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (Seattle, WA, USA): 15 April     Last week’s list, in case you missed it   Post a job   Support Josh’s Water Jobs

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"The carrot may work better than the stick, but I prefer the stick. And I am really good sticking it to faculty!" - @ass_deans

USACE and USBR: New CRAP (Colorado River Access Project) Will Revitalize Las Vegas, Fill Lakes Mead & Powell, More!

Boulder City, NV: In a surprising April 1 press conference, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) unveiled plans to transform the Lower Colorado River into a massive canal that would provide ocean-going ships access to Las Vegas. General Alberto "Al" Muerzo, P.E., civil works head of the USACE's South Pacific Division, and Mr. Richard "Dick" Cabeza, P.E., Regional Director of the USBR's Lower Colorado Region, met before dozens of reporters and dignitaries to describe the 10-year, $600 billion project, known as the Colorado River Access Project (CRAP).

Mr. Cabeza said "CRAP will indeed transform the southwestern USA and revitalize the Las Vegas economy by providing direct shipping access to the ocean. Yuma and Las Vegas will become deep-water ports. Cruise and container ships will be able to reach Las Vegas and regurgitate their human and other cargo. It's awesome!" Muerzo added that the capstone of the world's largest engineering project will be a lock system that will raise ships above Hoover Dam into Lake Mead, which will be dredged. "I mean, I thought the Corps' FART project (Fix America's River Transportation) to straighten the Mississippi River was something, but this is unreal. Gees, big boats in the desert! Whoa!" he gushed.

"Ships." sighed Cabeza, "They're ships."

Cabeza also noted that many of the ships will transport freshwater to refill Lake Mead, which is several hundred feet below its normal level. 'We need to refill the lake so that we can generate more electricity and supply drinking water to those who need it. We are also working on a pipeline to take the water to Lake Powell, which is 25% full." Cabeza said that the newly-filled lakes will be able to supply water to the Upper Basin and Lower Basin states. "There will be plenty of water for all the basin states, and the tribes as well." When asked who would supply the water for the tankers, Cabeza snapped, 'Mexico'. 

Anthony "Tony the Bug" Pizzeria, spokesman for Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman (unable to attend because of her husband Oscar's grand jury appearance) said Mayor Goodman was "reel entoosiastic." Pizzeria continued: "Dis project will truly make Vegas into a woild-class city. We dunno wadda say. Jus tink - all dem construction workers, sailors, and merchant seamen lookin' for somethin' to do. Already we are startin' to issue brothel permits."

Clark County DA Dewey Cheatham said he was most interested in the Lake Mead dredging, as he expected to be able to solve hundreds of missing persons cases. Cheatham elaborated: "I mean, with all the concrete at the bottom of Lake Mead, we could build another friggin' Hoover Dam! Forget the Meadowlands - I betcha Jimmy Hoffa's down there. Man, I could be on CNN or even CSI!"

The dredging of Lake Mead also pleased Pat 'Da Man' Mulwray, head of the Southern Nevada Aqua Grabbers (SNAG). "It will create more water storage during a time of great need, " she said, "but we still need to fill it with water from the long-overdue GLAD (Great Lakes Aqueduct Diversion) project. Hey, Al, when you guys gonna dig that ditch? I mean, I can't wait all friggin' day for you to get off your butts! Am I going to have wait for the Canadian CRAP or water from Crater Lake? What the..." Her voice faded as she was hustled off the dais.  

Clark County Economic Development guru Des Ayuno chimed in: "Las Vegas has always been viewed as having a 'one-trick' - well, maybe two - economy. CRAP will enable us to turn yet another trick, and you know what they say about good things coming in threes. So we won't get screwed again when the economy tanks."

Dubai Ports World, which gained notoriety in its failed attempt to operate ports in six East Coast cities several years ago, will be named operator for the new Port of Las Vegas. Sheikh Ali bin-Dovr, spokesman for DPW, expressed great pride in landing the contract. "My countrymen have been coming to Las Vegas for many years to be serviced. It is now time to return the favor, and we will be honored to service Las Vegas." When asked about DPW's treatment of women, he replied " Hey, no hay problema. We already have plans to introduce casual Fridays, on which some of our secretaries will be permitted to wear colored burkhas - with their husbands' permission, of course."

Bette Yuras, reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Urinal, inquired as to the acquiescence of the Mexican government, since part of the canal would be in Mexican territory. "The what of the Mexican government? Oh. Hey, no hay problema!" replied Muerzo in his best Spanish. "We've already bribed the politicians and the drug cartels, and besides the Mexican engineering firm ABRIL-TONTO will handle the Mexican CRAP," he added. Muerzo went on to say that Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has long been a big supporter of CRAP. 

Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tomasina "Tommie" Gunn hailed the project as an important component of national security. '"There will be thousands of Mexicans working for ABRIL-TONTO on the Mexican side and making good dinero, so they won't try to sneak into the USA," she said. She added that the Mexican portion of the canal will be hand-dug so as to maximize employment and kickbacks to government officials and drug kingpins, which will keep things muy tranquilo.

Reporter Hugh Jeego of the Arizona Cilbuper questioned Cabeza and Muerzo about the wisdom of proposing a huge public-works project in a time of massive deficits, the rebuilding of New Orleans, and the Afghanistan War. They deferred to White House spokeswoman April Foolz, who was quick to respond: "Both President Biden and Vice-President Harris have promoted CRAP to Congress and the American people for over three years, so the time is right. We are confident that CRAP will prevail and that Congress will pass CRAP". Foolz continued: "Furthermore, the project will not cost the taxpayers one thin dime. It will be funded by the interest income from the Social Security trust fund and a surcharge on shale gas. It's a slam dunk!"

Cabeza added that the benefit-cost ratio calculated by Dr. David Shetland, the Meyer Lansky Professor of Creative Economics at UNLV's Department of Economics, was 151.231/1. "Or maybe it was 1/151.231. Dang! I always get that mixed up! But hey, no hay problema, we are in good hands," Shetland noted, "as long as the price is right."

When asked about the benefits to and the effects on the various indigenous peoples who depend upon and live along the river, Muerzo said "Come again? The who? They live where?"

Muerzo mentioned that environmentalists would be mollified by the comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), prepared by Nevada State University's Department of FRAC (Food, Resources, Animals & Conservation). The study found that the canal and its construction would not harm any living things, because the Colorado River flows through a desert. "Everyone knows nothing can live in a desert, so you can't harm what isn't there," said the EIS director, Dr. Ima Shill. "I mean, have you been to Yuma in August? I mean, it's so friggin' hot there you can fry burgers on a rock. I'd rather live in New Jersey than spend a day in Yuma during the summer. Have you ever been to New Jersey? Let me tell you..." Upon further questioning, she added: "All we found were some wealthy geezers around Lake Havasu City and some farmers around Yuma. So, no hay problema!" beamed Shill.

A spokesman for Senator Harry Reid, Jr. (D-NV), Ken Frito-Lay, said the Senator would immediately seek Department of Defense authorization to designate Las Vegas an official Navy service port, where all types of naval fleet "servicing" can occur. "Las Vegas has far more to offer the Navy than does San Diego, and besides, it is not nearly as corrupt. It can also begin "servicing" the Navy even before the ships arrive," he said. In another jab at San Diego, Frito-Lay introduced Las Vegas' new motto: "America's Finest City - The Best Money Can Buy!"

Happy April Fools' Day!     ¡Feliz el día de tontos de abril!

[Disclosure notice: this is fictitious, but perhaps it's allegorical. Any resemblance between real people and characters in this post is an unintended consequence. See my previous April Fools' Day posts: 1 April 2007; 1 April 2008; and April 2011.]

"In their efforts to provide a sufficiency of water where there was not one, men have resorted to every expedient from prayer to dynamite. The story of their efforts is, on the whole, one of pathos and tragedy, of a few successes and many failures" - Walter Prescott Webb (The Great Plains)