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Officials will not release cool water from a Colorado River reservoir to protect threatened fish
Officials said the release would have cut hydropower output and forced utilities to buy more expensive power, affecting about 155 customers.
- On Thursday, federal officials announced they will not release cool water from Glen Canyon Dam this year, prioritizing hydropower production over protecting threatened native fish downstream.
- Lake Powell is just 23% full after decades of overuse and climate change, forcing officials to balance conserving the humpback chub against electricity costs for more than 40 million people.
- The Bureau considers cool water releases when average daily temperatures exceed about 60 F for three consecutive days, a measure that prevents invasive Smallmouth bass from spawning in the river below.
- Andy Colosimo, executive director of the Colorado River Energy Distributors Association, praised the decision as "the right call," while Matt Rice of American Rivers called it disappointing and feared a "death sentence to humpback chub."
- Wayne G. Pullan, regional director of the Upper Colorado Basin, wrote that the agency will focus on "expanded rapid response removal actions," innovative tools, and structural solutions to address ongoing challenges.
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Colorado River officials face a fish-versus-power tradeoff as warmer water threatens native humpback chub and cool releases bypass dam turbines
This year, federal officials have decided against releasing cool water from the Colorado River reservoirs, emphasizing the need for hydropower production over the conservation of a threatened fish species. The river and its reservoirs are facing severe depletion from overuse and climate change, while states have been unable to reach a long-term agreement on water sharing. Utilities welcomed this choice, citing concerns over the costs of alternat…
·India
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Associated Press News+14 Reposted by 14 other sources
Officials will not release cool water from a Colorado River reservoir to protect threatened fish
Federal officials will not be releasing water from one of the Colorado River's major reservoirs. A release would have protected a threatened native fish downstream but put more strain on already struggling hydropower production.
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources17
Leaning Left7Leaning Right2Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution44% Left, 44% Center
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources lean Left, 44% of the sources are Center
44% Center
L 44%
C 44%
12%
Factuality
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