Southern California is set to receive federal funding for an unusual but increasingly necessary strategy.
Under a newly approved arrangement, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California could collect up to $65 million by keeping part of its Colorado River supply in Lake Mead, where falling water levels are straining regional supplies and threatening power generation at Hoover Dam.
What’s happening?
As Newsweek reported, Metropolitan’s board approved an agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation that would pay the district $325 for each acre-foot of Colorado River water it leaves in Lake Mead in 2026, up to 200,000 acre-feet.
If Metropolitan reaches that limit, the payment would total $65 million. The district said an acre-foot equals about 326,000 gallons, which is roughly enough water for three Southern California households…