Senate backs bill protecting conserved Colorado River water to reach Lake Powell

Senator Hinkins presented Senate Bill 144, a bill intended to help Utah water users avoid mandatory curtailment under the Colorado River Compact by protecting conserved water that is temporarily stored in reservoirs such as Lake Powell. Hinkins told the Senate the bill would provide legal protection so conserved water can be physically routed to a reservoir and credited as an offset under federal programs, including multistate demand-management initiatives.

The sponsor said Lake Powell and Lake Mead are at historically low levels and that voluntary conservation stored in qualifying reservoirs could later be released to offset federal reductions. SB 144 is structured to ensure conserved water is legally protected to reach a reservoir without interference by other water users and is similar to prior statutory changes protecting conserved water intended for the Great Salt Lake.

Senators asked no substantive questions on the floor and the Senate read SB 144 a third time by recorded vote (26–0 with 3 absent). The bill will proceed through the legislative process.