The Colorado River Crisis and What It Means for Hemet

As a Board Member for the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD), I am committed to ensuring that our community in Division 3, including Hemet, has a safe, reliable, and sustainable water supply. To understand the challenges we face locally, we must look to one of the most critical water sources for California and the Southwest: the Colorado River.

The Colorado River has been in crisis for more than two decades. Since 2000, the Basin has experienced the driest 16-year inflow period in over a century, reducing major reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell to about half their capacity (USGS, 2015). This historic drought, combined with rising temperatures driven by climate change, has created what many call a “megadrought,” straining water supplies, hydropower generation, and ecosystems throughout the West (Woodwell Climate Research Center, 2023).

Why the Colorado River Matters to California

California relies heavily on the Colorado River. Roughly one third of Southern California’s water comes from this river, supporting both our cities and agricultural regions, including Riverside and Imperial Counties (PPIC, 2018). California’s legal right to 4.4 million acre-feet annually was secured under the 1922 Colorado River Compact, but that compact was based on overly optimistic assumptions about the river’s long-term flow. The river has never reliably produced the 16.5 million acre-feet promised to the seven states and Mexico. Today, the average is closer to 14.8 million acre-feet, and climate change is driving that number even lower (USGS, 2015; Penn State, 2025).

While California has senior water rights, meaning our allocations are more secure than those of Arizona and Nevada, we are not immune. Declining reservoir levels at Lake Mead threaten shortage declarations that could ripple through the entire system. These shortages have already been declared at Tier 1 and Tier 2, and experts warn that Tier 3 could come soon if conditions worsen (Woodwell Climate Research Center, 2023).

Local Impacts on Hemet

For Hemet and other communities in EMWD’s service area, the Colorado River crisis is not abstract. It has real implications for how we manage our water portfolio. EMWD relies on a diverse blend of imported supplies from the Colorado River and State Water Project, along with local groundwater and recycled water. When Colorado River deliveries are reduced, pressure increases on other supplies, including the State Water Project, which faces its own climate-driven shortages. This creates competition across the region and raises costs for treatment and delivery.

In addition, water quality is an issue. By the time Colorado River water reaches Southern California, it carries a higher salt content than many local sources. During droughts, when other supplies shrink, cities like Hemet rely more heavily on this water, increasing treatment costs and placing additional stress on ratepayers (PPIC, 2018).

Moving Toward Solutions

Addressing the Colorado River crisis requires both local and regional action. At the basin level, states are renegotiating the “Law of the River” to create a more sustainable system for the future. Conservation efforts, new irrigation methods, and water trading are part of the solution, but lasting change will also require long-term cooperation and adaptation (Penn State, 2025).

Locally, EMWD continues to invest in recycled water, groundwater management, and conservation programs to stretch our supplies further. Every drop matters. As residents of Hemet, we play a role by using water wisely, supporting regional conservation programs, and staying informed about the challenges ahead.

The Colorado River has shaped the history and growth of Southern California. Now, we must ensure it can continue to sustain our future. Together, with smart planning and shared responsibility, we can navigate this crisis and secure reliable water for Hemet and beyond.

References

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). California’s Water: The Colorado River. November 2018. https://www.ppic.org/publication/californias-water-the-colorado-river/

USGS. Drought in the Colorado River Basin: Insights Using Open Data. U.S. Geological Survey, 2015. https://labs.waterdata.usgs.gov/visualizations/OWDI-drought/en/index.html

Woodwell Climate Research Center. “Colorado River water crisis a symptom of greater climate crisis.” February 2, 2023. https://www.woodwellclimate.org/colorado-river-water-shortage-climate-crisis/

Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment. “The Colorado River crisis: Water shortages, climate change, and sustainable management.” March 19, 2025. https://iee.psu.edu/news/blog/colorado-river-crisis-water-shortages-climate-change-and-sustainable-management