by #AlexHager for #KUNC:

"The Colorado River is governed by more than a century of legal agreements, most of which were hammered out by generations of older white men. The ranks of the river's top policy negotiators have begun to diversify in recent years, including more women and people of color, but still tend to skew older. [JB] Hamby's inclusion marks the first time a member of Generation Z will be at the negotiating table, making deals for the Southwest's most important water source."

https://www.kunc.org/news/2023-07-06/meet-the-colorado-rivers-newest-and-youngest-power-player

#JBHamby #ImperialValley #ColoradoRiver #California #GenerationZ #ImperialIrrigationDistrict #IID #irrigation #river #water #crops #livestock #farming

‘In California's Imperial Valley, Farmers Brace for a Future with Less Colorado River Water’
#WaterNews #WaterJustice #LATimes #IanJames

“Since its founding in 1911, the #ImperialIrrigationDistrict has held some of the most senior #WaterRights on the #ColoradoRiver, and it is among the last in line to take cuts. Its water rights, which date to 1901, support the local farm economy and sustain a substantial portion of the nation's food supply.

“But as the Colorado's largest reservoir declines closer to ‘dead pool’ levels, politicians and water managers in other states are calling on the IID to make cuts beyond 9% that the agency has pledged to make starting this year. They say that the dire state of Lake Mead warrants larger cuts, and that much of the reductions will need to come from agriculture. …

“The demands have struck an anxious chord among Imperial Valley growers, who say their way of life could be threatened and the country's food security is at stake.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/in-californias-imperial-valley-farmers-brace-for-a-future-with-less-colorado-river-water/ar-AA16NxSl