Babbitt issues proposed Colorado River rules

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1997 | 2:01 a.m.

The new rules would enable Nevada, Arizona and California to bank leftover water in another state for future use.

The plan would have a major impact on booming southern Nevada, which currently uses about 215,000 acre-feet of its annual 300,000-acre-foot allocation from the Colorado.

An acre-foot of water - meaning enough water to cover an acre at a depth of 1 foot - can serve one or two families for a year.

"This rule will encourage voluntary interstate agreements among the Lower Division states, helping to satisfy regional demands," Babbitt said.

Babbitt must approve all interstate storage agreements.

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