Cadiz Wins Federal Approval for 2.5 Million Acre-Foot Mojave Water Pipeline as Colorado River Crisis Deepens
Updated
Updated · Newsweek · Jul 14
Cadiz Wins Federal Approval for 2.5 Million Acre-Foot Mojave Water Pipeline as Colorado River Crisis Deepens
1 articles · Updated · Newsweek · Jul 14
Summary
BLM this month approved Cadiz Inc.’s plan to convert a former oil-and-gas pipeline to carry Mojave Desert groundwater, a step the company said moves the project into construction.
The approval covered the pipeline conversion only: BLM found no significant environmental impact from that change, while excluding the effects of groundwater pumping from its review.
Cadiz says the project could move or store up to 2.5 million acre-feet of Mojave water across the Southwest to support broader Colorado River management and Lake Mead.
The fight comes as the Colorado River system remains under severe stress—Lake Mead is 27% full and Lake Powell 23% full after more than two decades of drought.
As states clash with federal plans, can the Colorado River be saved without long-term certainty for planning and investment?
With new water too costly for farms, are massive projects subsidizing urban growth while leaving agriculture's future uncertain?
Cadiz Water Project: Federal Approval, State Rejection, and the Battle Over 50,000 Acre-Feet in the Mojave Desert
Overview
In July 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management granted Cadiz Inc. federal approval to repurpose a long-standing pipeline, marking a turning point for the Mojave Groundwater Bank project. This approval allows Cadiz to convert an old natural gas pipeline into a water conveyance system, aiming to address water scarcity in Southern California. However, this federal green light has reignited a decades-old debate over water rights and environmental impacts, as state authorities, scientists, and local communities strongly oppose the project due to concerns about unsustainable groundwater extraction and potential harm to the fragile Mojave Desert ecosystem.