Arizona Reaction to the Interior Department’s plans for Colorado River Operations during 2027 and 2028 has covered the full gamut of possibilities.
The guidance, which appears to place less onerous requirements on Lower Basin States like Arizona during this period generated an optimistic reaction from Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs who posted:
“I’m glad the federal government has chosen to implement the Lower Basin’s water allocation plan. We’ve protected Arizona from disastrous and unacceptable forced federal water cuts. Together, we’ve proven that the Lower Basin will work in meaningful ways to protect the Colorado River system we all rely on. I applaud Nevada and California for joining us in stepping up to the plate.”
Arizona Senate Democratic Leader Priya Sundareshan echoed some of the themes of the Hobbs post but cautioned that working for a long term solution needs to be done to ensure stabilty to the Grand Canyon State, commenting to Blog for Arizona:
“The federal government’s adoption of the Lower Basin Proposal for the next two years is a credit to the efforts of Governor Hobbs and her negotiating team working with the other Lower Basin states. It protects our state from the most devastating Colorado River cuts originally proposed. But the federal decision lacks any plan beyond two years and fails to ensure certainty for any Western state.
Senate Democrats have fought hard to protect Arizona’s water future, and we’re encouraged to see a path forward that avoids the worst-case scenario. But this is not the end of the work.
The Colorado River remains under enormous pressure, and Arizona cannot afford to kick the can down the road. We need real solutions that protect the health of the entire river system and ensure everyone who relies on this water does their fair share.
Senate Democrats will keep fighting for Arizona’s water security, a healthy Colorado River, and a plan where everyone plays fair. Our communities and economy depend on getting this right.”
Arizona’s two Senators, Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, issued a joint statement, which shared the optimism of the Hobbs post.
They wrote:
“This decision provides much-needed certainty for Arizona and the Colorado River over the next two years. The 2027 and 2028 guidelines protect Arizona from even deeper near-term cuts while giving the seven Basin states more time to reach a long-term agreement. Arizona and our Lower Basin partners have stepped up with significant conservation commitments, and now every Basin state needs to do its part.
“We’ll keep working with Arizona’s water leaders, Lower Basin states, and the Department of the Interior to put this plan into action and reach a fair, lasting agreement that protects the state’s water future.”
Representative Adelita Grijalva took a more guarded optimistic approach in her statement, writing:
“While I am glad that the Department of the Interior took into account the Lower Basin states’ proposal for voluntary reductions in the short term, we still need a permanent solution that ensures Arizonans do not bear a disproportionate burden of water cuts. For that to happen, we need all seven Colorado River Basin states to cooperate—plain and simple.“
“Only an equitable, seven-state approach will put the Colorado River on a sustainable path, prevent dangerously low reservoir levels, and protect this critical resource for generations to come. As policymakers, we must also address the root causes of declining river flows and reservoir levels by confronting climate change and investing in a more drought-resilient Colorado River Basin.”
Representative and former Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton offered a more cautionary and pessimistic reaction to the two year guidelines, commenting to 12 News:
“I have mixed feelings. First off, I think Governor Hobbs actually did a really good job at the negotiating table and operated very professionally and in good faith by offering up these additional cuts so that we wouldn’t get more draconian cuts. That being said, Arizona is still absorbing the vast disproportionate amount of these cuts.
And what should have been a fair sharing of this pain is Arizona, unfortunately, is taking most of it. The upper basin is taking zero cuts, while the lower basin, especially Arizona, is taking massive cuts. Yeah, it doesn’t seem fair.”
In the earlier post below, Representative Stanton dove into more detail, explaining his reservations about the Department of the Interior’s decision.
“Interior dragged this process out for years and blew through deadline after deadline, only to land on essentially the same commonsense proposal the Lower Basin States put forward back in May.
Arizona and our partners did the hard work here. The White House just took its time catching up.
I’m carefully reviewing the details of the Record of Decision and the Operating Guidelines. What we do know is that these two years of stability are welcome, and Arizona’s families and businesses need the certainty this brings.
Arizona will take a sizable reduction to our water, but we can expect to be spared the brunt of cuts the Final Environmental Impact Statement left on the table through 2028.
We held firm on our legal rights. That is a credit to @GovernorHobbs and leaders across the Lower Basin coming together to protect our economy and the future of the Colorado River.
But a two-year reprieve is not a solution. The agreements holding this decision together must be durable, and a record-breaking drought won’t suddenly resolve itself.
Every two years, this same threat of “CAP to zero” will hang over Arizona’s head. That’s no way to run a system millions of people depend on for water, power, and food.
Arizona has led on conservation for decades. We have earned a fair, long-term deal that respects our economic and national security importance as America’s semiconductor capital — not another short-term fix that leaves us exposed.
I’m going to fight for continued investments and forceful actions that will fuel further conservation and get us closer to a durable seven-state solution.”
Current Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego seemed more blunt with her pessimism of the new Colorado River usage reality in her social media post, conveying:
“The federal government’s decision does not provide the fair, basin-wide leadership the Colorado River crisis demands. We will continue protecting reliable water service while leading the next generation of infrastructure investments to support our residents and businesses that are essential to America’s economic and national security. Though we are prepared for this moment because of decades of planning and conservation, we will push for new federal support to mitigate the rising cost of water that will result from this federal decision. Phoenix will continue to lead with responsible growth, continued conservation, and investment in infrastructure improvements that serve our city and the region.“
Mayor Gallego’s concerns were shared by leading members of the Phoenix Water Services Department who noted:
“Phoenix has serious concerns that the federal approach places a disproportionate share of the responsibility for balancing the Colorado River on Arizona and other Lower Basin states without requiring sufficient action throughout the Colorado River basin. Long-term drought and aridification have resulted in a smaller river, creating a fundamentally different scenario than was contemplated when the Law of the River was established. In this new reality, all Colorado River users must share responsibility for protecting this important resource on which 40 million people across the basin depend.”
Phoenix Water Services Director Brandy Kelso relayed:
“Phoenix has prepared extensively for reduced Colorado River supplies, and our customers can continue to expect reliable water service. But preparation does not mean we can be complacent. Balancing supply and demand will require us to carefully manage our reserves, invest in future supplies, and work with residents and businesses to use water as efficiently as possible.”
Phoenix Water Resources Management Advisor Dr. Max Wilson offered:
“The water we stored underground was developed for conditions like these. Those reserves provide a critical bridge, but that bridge must lead to the next generation of renewable water supplies. Phoenix will use this moment to accelerate the projects and partnerships needed to strengthen reliability for decades to come.”
The Phoenix Water Services Department listed several recommendations for a “lasting solution” to Colorado River usage among the Upper and Lower Basin States, including:
- Share responsibility throughout the entire Colorado River Basin.
- Reflect current and anticipated hydrologic conditions.
- Protect critical elevations at Lake Powell and Lake Mead.
- Recognize tribal water rights.
- Provide pathways to new federal funds and support.
- Provide certainty for community, infrastructure, and financial planning.
- Recognize conservation and water-storage investments already made by cities, tribes, agriculture, and other water users.
- Protect communities, agriculture, and industries important to the regional and national economy.
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