Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead

Authors

• Anne Castle, University of Colorado, Boulder
• John Fleck, University of New Mexico
• Eric Kuhn
• Jack Schmidt, Utah State University
• Katherine Tara, University of New Mexico
• Kathryn Sorensen, Arizona State University

Document Type

Other

Publication Date

2-26-2026

Abstract

Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead (DEIS). The undersigned colleagues with experience in Colorado River matters commend the Bureau of Reclamation and its consultants for the tremendous effort involved in preparing this environmental impact analysis. We are especially impressed by Reclamation’s effort to analyze policy alternatives within the context of the deep uncertainty about what future hydrology might be. Your work is novel in its effort to provide the public with a sense of what the performance, robustness, and vulnerability of different policy approaches might be in a future world whose hydrology is imperfectly known. Our comments are intended to be constructive and helpful in guiding the composition and selection of a preferred alternative and preparation of a Final EIS and Record of Decision.

Recommended Citation

Castle, Anne; John Fleck; Eric Kuhn; Jack Schmidt; Katherine Tara; and Kathryn Sorensen. "Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead." (2026). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/uc_traveling_wilburys/9