Feds may slow flow on the lower Colorado

PHOENIX (AP) — If drought conditions persist, the federal government reportedly will reduce water deliveries on the lower Colorado River as early as 2006.

A top water official said last week that Interior Secretary Gale Norton will impose the cutbacks unless Arizona and the other six states that use the river's water agree on a drought-management plan of their own.

The seven states were given an April 1 deadline to submit such a plan.

If Norton declares a shortage on the river, water will be cut first from the Central Arizona Project.

Arizona officials say any early shortages would affect mostly farmers.

A good winter runoff could delay cutbacks, perhaps for years, but federal officials say the states still must agree on a shortage plan so that future decisions won't be made in the midst of a crisis.

The government also wants safeguards in place to protect power production at Glen Canyon Dam and Hoover Dam in northern Arizona.

"The reality is here, and it's time to deal with the shortages now," said Deputy Interior Secretary Steven Griles. "We have no option, and if we have to, we will move ahead with a plan to reduce deliveries in the Lower Basin."

Norton issued a similar warning in late 2002 when she told California water agencies to agree on a water use plan or face the loss of surplus water from the river.

When the agencies failed to meet the deadline, Norton followed through and cut off part of their water supply.

Although the Interior Department can impose smaller deliveries only to the lower river basin states, such a move would reverberate into the Upper Basin, where Colorado, Utah and the other states fear shortages.