Jason Hauter Quoted in ENRSouthwest on Lower-Basin Colorado River Drought Plans
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ENRSouthwest has quoted Akin Gump senior counsel Jason Hauter, a member of the firm’s American Indian policy and regulation practice, in the article “Lower-Basin Colorado River States Work On New Drought Plans,” regarding proposals by three states to protect Lake Mead from dropping to critical levels that would then ignite delivery reductions.
The proposed Drought Contingency Plan involving Arizona, California and Nevada, as well as Arizona’s own intrastate agreement, will define when insufficient supplies in the Colorado River trigger restrictions. According to the article, the agreements will add certainty for lower-basin inhabitants and allow for future business expansion and relocations, in addition to population growth.
The article reports, however, that the various parties have not been able to reach consensus on the proposals. Stakeholders have also said they regretted that so much of the process had made it into the public sphere.
Hauter, who represents tribal interests in certain matters, is optimistic that the issue will be resolved. “I think we will all get past that and find an agreement,” he said.
