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Arizona braces for Deeper colorado River Cuts as Negotiations Stall
Arizona is preparing for perhaps drastic reductions in its Colorado River water supply as negotiations among seven states – and with Mexico and the United States federal government – fail too yield a consensus before critical deadlines. The state’s future water security hangs in the balance as a decades-long drought intensifies, exacerbated by the effects of climate change.
The Central Arizona Project (CAP), a 300-mile canal delivering water to over six million people and eleven tribes, is at the epicenter of this crisis. Brenda Burman, the general manager of the CAP, emphasized the vital role the project plays in supplying water from the Colorado River, beginning in Parker, Arizona, and extending through the desert to communities as far south as Tucson.
The foundation for Arizona’s claim to Colorado River water was solidified by a 1963 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Arizona v. California, enabling significant growth across the state. However, to secure federal funding for the CAP canal, Arizona agreed to be the first to face water reductions during shortages – effectively placing it last in line for allocations among lower-basin states.
Despite this disadvantage, Arizona has prioritized water conservation.”Ultimately, arizonans are using less water than we did in the 1950s,” burman stated. “We’ve just learned to be smarter about it.” This conservation effort has become increasingly urgent as the Colorado River experiences a historic decline.
According to Burman,the river is now 20% smaller than it was in the past,enduring a 26-year drought and counting. Arizona has already begun taking cuts, with farmers in Pinal County bearing a significant portion of the burden, experiencing reductions of over a third in their water usage.
The current agreement governing the sharing of the Colorado River expires on October 1, 2026. To date, the states have been unable to reach a new agreement, prompting the federal government to propose its own plan in January. “We’re very disappointed with that document,” Burman said, adding that implementing the federal alternatives would be “very, very tough and perhaps devastating for Arizona.” Some proposals coudl result in Arizona facing a 57% cut in its water allocation if drought conditions worsen.
“I would say we expect to be taking deeper cuts in 2027 and we are prepared to take deeper cuts,” Burman affirmed. “What we’re not prepared to do is to balance the entire river, this smaller river on Arizona’s shoulders.”
Burman highlighted that Arizona and other lower basin states are actively working to conserve water, pointing to successes in the Phoenix, Los Angeles, and las Vegas areas. She stressed the need for upper basin states to contribute to conservation efforts as well. A graphic illustrating water usage trends in the upper and lower basins would be beneficial here.
Despite the uncertainty, Arizona water managers remain focused on ensuring a reliable water supply for the future.”Water managers have one job in mind,” Burman explained. “That is to make sure that the water is flowing and the people who need water are getting it.”
Arizona’s primary goal remains a negotiated agreement involving all seven states,Mexico,and the United States,rather than a federally imposed mandate or legal battle. “Our number one goal is to have a compromise solution,” Burman said. “We are willing to do our part,but we’re not going to do it alone.”
