(The Center Square) – Arizona leaders sent a bipartisan letter to the Trump administration requesting that it maintain the original 1922 Colorado River Compact as negotiations continue to address the river’s future water rights.
Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert; House Speaker Steve Montenegro, R-Surprise; state Sen. Priya Sundareshan, D-Tucson; state Rep. Oscar De Los Santos, D-Phoenix; and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs came together to sign the letter, dated Nov. 11.
They asked Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to ensure all states that are part of the agreement follow the same rules. The river’s water is used for purposes such as agriculture.
The original 1922 agreement was between Upper Basin States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, as well as the Lower Basin States of Arizona, California and Nevada.
The states missed the Nov. 11 deadline to reach an agreement on how to manage the Colorado River’s water. The Department of the Interior and the seven states released a joint statement saying more work needs to be done regarding negotiations, but progress has been made.
In the new agreement, Arizona leaders said they want the Upper Basin States to agree to use less water and to share the water shortage more evenly.
They said, “They found it alarming that the Upper Basin States are refusing to participate in any sharing of water shortages,” which has led to stalled negotiations.
Arizona leaders are concerned that these states are refusing to cut back on water use, which will impact the state’s water supply. They said the Upper Basin States have not offered “meaningful, verifiable conservation commitments.”
The leaders said Arizona’s water rights to the Colorado River are “at risk,” noting that the state relies on Colorado River water for its citizens and economy.
Petersen told The Center Square that “Arizona has already put forward real cuts to stabilize the Colorado River system.”
In the letter, the Arizona leaders said the state has developed plans with California and Nevada to conserve 1.5 million acre-feet of water per year.
“In Arizona, this would result in a reduction of greater than 27% of our Colorado River entitlement in most years in recognition of how serious action is needed to save this river,” they wrote.
The Center Square reported in September that if the Colorado River water rights are not addressed soon, the river could see its realistic water storage, which is less than half of the river’s normal reservoir projections, depleted in a couple years.
Petersen said every Basin State needs to “make contributions that are measurable and enforceable” to have lasting solutions.
“We are committed to a fair framework where the sacrifices needed to protect this river are shared – not placed disproportionately on the backs of Arizonans,” he said.
Petersen added that the Arizona leaders “are grateful for the Trump Administration’s willingness to listen, to understand Arizona’s position, and to work constructively toward a fair agreement.”
To end their letter, Arizona leaders asked Burgum and the Department of the Interior to make sure any agreement contains “measurable and enforceable conservation requirements for the Upper Basin to make certain that this crucial water resource remains available for Arizona and its contributions to the economy and national security of this country.”
