The federal Bureau of Reclamation has already looked at piping 600,000 acre-feet of water a year from either the Missouri or the Mississippi. Any water diversion from the Mississippi to Arizona must be pumped about 6,000 feet up, over the Rockies. Certainly not the surrounding communities. Just pump water a few miles from the Mississippi near Des Moines into the Ogallala aquifer. Most notably, the Mississippi River basin doesnt always have enough water to spare. Pumping Mississippi River water west: solution or dream? Other legal constraints include the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Protection Act and variousstate environmental laws, said Brent Newman, senior policy director for the National Audubon Society's Delta state programs. Under the analyzed scenario, water would be conveyed to Colorados Front Range and areas of New Mexico to help fulfill water needs. Who is going to come to the desert and use it? But the loss of so much water from the. You couldbuild a pipeline from the Mississippi or Missouri Rivers. "The desalinationplant Arizona has scoped out would be by far the largest ever in North America,"said Jennifer Pitt, National Audubon Society's Colorado River program director. We can move water, and weve proven our desire to do it. Experts we spoke with agreed the feat would be astronomical. Power from its hydroelectric dams would boost U.S. electricity supplies. Runa giant hose from the Columbia River along the bottom of the Pacific Ocean to refill Diamond Valley Reservoir. To the editor: I'd like to ask if the reader from Chatsworth calling for the construction of a water pipeline from the Mississippi River to Colorado River reservoirs has ever been to . 2023 www.desertsun.com. Gavin Newsom also touted desalination in adrought resilience plan he announcedlast week, though in brackish inland areas. Your support keeps our unbiased, nonprofit news free. As zany as the ideas may sound, could anywork, and if so, what would be the costs? He said a major wastewater reuse project that MWD plans to implement by 2032 could ultimately yield up 150 million gallons of potable water a day from treated waste. But water expertssaid it would likely take at least 30 years to clear legal hurdles to such a plan. The other alternatives have political costs, and they have costs that are maybe more likely to be borne locally, including by farmers and other large water users, she said. Every day, we hear about water conservation, restrictions. Others said the costs of an Arizona-Mexico desalination plant would also likely prove infeasible. ", Westford of Southern California's Metropolitan Water District agreed. The project would have to secure dozens of state and federal permits and clear an enormous federal environmental review; moving the water would also require the construction of several hundred megawatts of power generation. All rights reserved. Do we have the political will? To the editor: With the threat of brownouts and over-stressed power grids, dwindling water resources in California and the call to reduce consumption by 15%, I want to point out we are not all in this together. Fueled by Google and other search engines, more than 3.2 millionpeople have read the letters, an unprecedented number for the regional publication's opinion content. Just this past summer, the idea caused a firestorm of letters to the editor at a California newspaper. A pipeline to the Mississippi River Perhaps the biggest achievement Paffrath said he would accomplish if elected governor would be to solve California's water crisis by building a. Take that, Lake Mead. Facebook, Follow us on In northwestern Iowa, a river has repeatedly been pumped dry by a rural water utility that sells at least a quarter of the water outside the state. Let's be really clear here. Gavin Newsom reaffirming his support for the ambitious proposal. He frames the pipeline as a complement to water-saving policies. Most recently, the Arizona state legislature passed a measure in 2021 urging Congress to investigate pumping flood water from the Mississippi River to the Colorado River to bolster its flow. The memorial is seeking Mississippi River water as a solution to ongoing shortages on the Colorado River as water levels reach historic lows in the two largest reservoirs on the river, Lake Powell and Lake Mead. after the growth in California . If you dont have enough of it, go find more. Over the years, a proposed solution has come up again and again: large-scale river diversions, including pumping Mississippi River water to the parched west. Conservation alternatives are less palatable than big infrastructure projects, but theyre also more achievable. We need to protect our water supply, at allcosts, and forgo our financialgains. "To my mind, the overriding fatal flaw for large import schemes is the time required to become operational. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. What if our droughts get worse? I think the feasibility study is likely to tell us what we already know, he said, which is that there are a lot less expensive, less complicated options that we can be investing in right now, like reducing water use. A multi-state compact already prohibits any sale of water from the Great Lakes unless all bordering states agree to it, and its almost certain that Mississippi River states would pass laws restricting water diversions, or file lawsuits against western states, if the project went forward. Last time I heard, we are still the United States of America.". The state also set aside funds in 2018 to study possible imports from the Missouri or Mississippi Rivers, but to date, the study hasnt been done, he said. We've had relatively rich resources for so long,we've never really had to deal withthis before, andwe don't want to change.". While the much-needed water has improved conditions in the parched West, experts warn against claiming victory. It would turn the Southwest into an oasis, and the Great Basin into productive farmland. Noting about 4.5 million gallons per second of Mississippi River flow past the Old River Control Structure in Louisiana, the letter writer explains diverting 250,000 gallons per second would. Each year . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Fort, the University of New Mexico professor, worries that the bigwigs who throw their energy behind large capital projects may be neglecting other, more practical options. To be talking about pipe dreams, when thats not even feasible for decades, if at all Its a disservice, Scanlan said. I think it would be foolhardy to dismiss it as not feasible, said Richard Rood, professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering at the University of Michigan. Arizona and Nevada residents must curb their use of water from the Colorado River, and California could be next. Drought conditions plagued the region throughout 2022, for instance, prompting concerns over river navigation. Can A Pipeline Really Bring Drinking Water From Mississippi To The West? "Arizona really, really wants oceanfront," she chuckled. USGS Surface Water for USA: Streamflow Measurements The federal Water Conservation Bureau gave approval Tuesday to piping 440 billion gallons of water per month to Arizona. Posted on: February 7, 2023, 02:30h. Booming Utah metro wants to pipe in water from Lake Powell so it can Despite the recent defeat of a major plant in Huntington Beach, after the California Coastal Commission said it was too environmentally damaging, "ocean desalination can't be off the table," said Coffey. The 2012 study didn't discount either option but. Moreover, we need water in our dams for. Widespread interest in the plan eventually fizzled. But pipelines and other big ideaswill always attract interest, hydrology experts said, because they falsely promise an innovative, easy way out. USGS 05587500 Mississippi River at Alton, IL. He said hes open to one but doesnt think its necessary. As recently as 2021, the Arizona state legislature urged Congress to fund a technological and feasibility study of a diversion dam and pipeline scheme to harvest floodwater from the Mississippi River to replenish the Colorado River. Opinion: How has American healthcare gone so wrong? Arizona's legislature allocated$1 billion in its last session for water augmentation projectslikea possible desalination plant, and state officials are in discussions with Mexican officials about the idea, saidBuschatzke. Dothey pay extra for using our water? But, he said, the days of mega-pipelines in the U.S. are likely over due to lack of environmental and political will. Could massive water pipelines solve the West's drought crisis? | Grist Las Vegas' grand proposal is to take water from the mighty Mississippi in a series of smaller pipeline-like exchanges among states just west of the Mississippi to refill the overused. And contrary to Siefkes' claims, experts said, the silty river flows provide sediment critical to shore up the rapidly disappearing Louisiana coast andbarrier islands chewed to bits by hurricanes and sea rise. The idea of diverting water from the Mississippi to the Colorado River basin is an excellent one, albeit also fantastically expensive. In 1964, a California engineering company proposed diverting flows from the Yukon and Mackenzie River watersheds, shared by Canada and the U.S., all the way to southern California and into Mexico. The Mississippi used to flow through a delta full of bayous, shifting sad bars, And islets. Pipeline from Mississippi - Coyote Gulch For one, theres no longer enough unclaimed water to make most pipeline projects cost-effective. Most recently, the Arizona state legislature passed a measure in 2021 urging Congress to investigate pumping flood water from the Mississippi River to the Colorado River to bolster its. These realities havent stopped the Wests would-be water barons from dreaming. Not mentioned was the great grand-daddy of all schemes for re-allocating water, known as the North American Water and Power Authority Plan. But the idea hasnever completely died. Here are 2 reasons why the drought in California won't open the door to It boggles the mind. Specifically, start with a line from the Mississippi River to the Colorado River at Lake Powell, where a seven-state compact divvies up the water. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson), Lawmakers targeting hospital facility fees, Whats Working: How a Denver nonprofit is expanding the benefits of work. No one wants to leave the western states without water, said Melissa Scanlan, a freshwater sciences professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) Waves of torrential rainfall drenched California into the new year. Has no one noticed how much hotter the desert is getting, not to mention the increase in fires in our area. From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka): Hausler's idea is to bring water from the Mississippi just below its confluence with the Ohio River across Missouri and Kansas into Colorado. Pipeline sizes vary from the 2-inch- (5-centimetre-) diameter lines used in oil-well gathering systems to lines 30 feet (9 metres) across in high-volume water and sewage networks. You should worry, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. Among its provisions, the law granted the states water infrastructure finance authority to investigate the feasibility of potential out-of-state water import agreements. The idea of drinking even heavily treated liquid wastemay seem unpalatable, but Westfordthinks people will adapt. About 33% of vegetables and 66% of fruits and nuts are produced in California for consumption for the nation. Million himself, though, is confident that his pipeline will get built, and that it will ensure Fort Collins future. Opinion: California gave up on mandating COVID vaccines for schoolchildren. One method for simulating streamflow and base flow, random forest (RF) models, was developed from the data at gaged sites and, in turn, was . Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. Diverting the Missouri River to the West: 'Can' Does Not - HuffPost This is the country that built the Hoover Dam, and where Los Angeles suburbs were created by taking water from Owens Lake. Canadian water for California's drought? - High Country News People need to focus on their realistic solutions.. Pipe water from the plentiful Great Lakes to deserted towns in the West like Phoenix and Las Vegas. In the meantime, researchers encourage more feasible and sustainable options, including better water conservation, water recycling, and less agricultural reliance. Doug Ducey signed legislation this past July that invested $1.2 billion to fund projects that conserve water and bring more into the state. You could do it.". So come on out for the plastic Marilyn on our dashboard, and stay for the stupendous waste of water, electricity and clean air. Its easy to understand why politicians want to throw their weight behind similar present-day projects, Fort told Grist, but projects of this size just arent practical anymore. Drought conditions plagued the region throughout 2022, for instance, prompting concerns over river navigation. Even smaller projects stand to be derailed by similar hiccups. Could a water pipeline from the Mississippi River to Arizona be a real solution? Letters to the Editor: Antigovernment ideology isnt working for snowed-in mountain towns, Letters to the Editor: Ignore Marjorie Taylor Greene? The idea of a pipeline transecting the continent is not a new idea. And biologists andenvironmental attorneys saidNew Orleans and the Louisiana coast, along with the interior swamplands, need every drop of muddy Mississippi water. Environmental writerMarc Reisner said the plan was one of "brutal magnificence" and "unprecedented destructiveness." Nonetheless, Siefkes trans-basin pipeline proposal went viral, receiving nearly half a million views. Such major infrastructure is an absolute necessity, said Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, who said he represents the governor on all things Colorado River.. The project entails the construction of thousands of miles of pipelines and canals, 427 water treatment facilities, countless pumping facilities, and the displacement of 300,000 residents. Is California still in a drought? Recent storms fill many CA reservoirs China, unlike the US, is unencumbered by NEPA, water rights and democratic processes in general. Nevertheless, Million hasnt given up, and hes currently working to secure permitting for the fourth iteration of the project. For him, thatincludessetting aside at leastportions of the so-called "Law of the River," a complicated, century-old set of legal agreements that guarantees farmers in Southern California the largest share of water. Releasing more water downstream would come at the expense of upstream users . Do they thank us for using our water? California uses 34 million acre-feet of water per year for agriculture. The delta was tricky for barge traffic and shipping to navigate. The price tag for construction would add to this hefty bill, along with the costs of powering the equipment needed to pump the water over the Western Continental Divide. Heproposed usingnuclear explosionsto excavate the system's trenches and underground water storage reservoirs. USGS 05587500 Mississippi River at Alton, IL. Western Water Woes - Is Big Infrastructure the Way to Go? Run a pipeline a few hundred miles to the San Juan River in Pagosa Springs CO which drains into Lake Powell and you are good to go. Most recently, in 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation produced a report laying out a potentially grim future for the Colorado River, and had experts evaluate 14 big ideas commonly touted as potential solutions. The state is expected to lose 10% of its water over the next two decades, reports the . From winter lettuce in grocery stores to the golf courses of the Sun Belt, the Wests explosive growth over the past century rests on aqueducts, canals and drainage systems. Leading environmental engineering firm to study alternative water Latitude 3853'06", Longitude 9010'51" NAD27. Why not begin a grand national infrastructure project of building a water pipeline from those flooded states to the Southwest? The lawsuit, originally filed in southern Texas' federal courts Jan. 18, was amended to include Idaho on Monday. Under the analyzed scenario, water would be conveyed to Colorados Front Range and areas of New Mexico to help fulfill water needs. To be talking about pipe dreams when thats not even feasible for decades, if at all Its a disservice, Scanlan said. An earlier version of this story misidentified for which agency Jennifer Pitt was a technical adviser. 10/4/2021. Email: newsroom@coloradosun.com PROVISIONAL DATA SUBJECT TO REVISION. The most obvious problem with this proposal is its mind-boggling cost. When that happens, it wont be just tourists and recreational boaters who will suffer. Is pumping Mississippi River water west a solution or pipe dream? Today, any water pipeline could cost from $10 billion to $20 billion with another $30 billion in improvements just to get the water to thirsty people and farms. Idaho joins Texas lawsuit against Biden administration over federal They includegawky pink roseate spoonbills, tiny bright yellow warblers, known as swamp candles because of their bright glow in the humid, green woods, and more. Inspired by Mao Zedong, who in 1952 observed, "The south has plenty of water and the north lacks it, so if possible why not borrow some?" In any case, Utah rejected a permit for the project in 2020, saying it would jeopardize the states own water rights. Yes. Guess Who Proposed the Missouri River Pipeline in the Federal A plan to divert Mississippi flood waters to west is proposed Developed in 1964 by engineer Ralph Parsons and his Pasadena-basedParsons Corporation,the plan would provide 75million acre-feet of water to arid areas inCanada, the United States and Mexico. The Unaffiliated is our twice-weekly newsletter on Colorado politics and policy. Vessels ran aground and had to navigate very carefully. Ive cowboyed enough in my life to know that you just got to stick to the trail, he said. Local hurdles include endangered species protections, wetlands protections, drinking water supply considerations and interstate shipping protections. Title: USGS Surface-Water Daily Data for the Nation URL: https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/dv? The plan would divert water from the Missouri River which normally flows into the Mississippi River and out to the Gulf of Mexico through an enormous pipeline slicing some 600 miles (970 . I have dystopian nightmares aboutpipelines marching across the landscape, saidglobal water scarcity expert Jay Famiglietti. Here's How. Each state along the Colorado River basin had the rights to a certain quantity of river water, divided among major users like farms and cities, and the projects were designed to help the states realize those abstract rights. Viaderos team estimated that the sale of the water needed to fill the Colorado Rivers Lake Powell and Lake Mead the largest reservoirs in the country would cost more than $134 billion at a penny a gallon. Letter writers have asked why a water pipeline is not constructed from the Mississippi River to the Colorado River.

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