{"id":15236534,"date":"2026-08-01T00:32:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T04:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/the-trump-administrations-draconian-water-cuts-could-gut-arizonas-colorado-river-supply\/"},"modified":"2026-08-01T00:33:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T04:33:22","slug":"the-trump-administrations-draconian-water-cuts-could-gut-arizonas-colorado-river-supply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/the-trump-administrations-draconian-water-cuts-could-gut-arizonas-colorado-river-supply\/","title":{"rendered":"The Trump administration\u2019s \u2018draconian\u2019 water cuts could gut Arizona\u2019s Colorado River supply"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/azmirror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin-bottom: 10px\" \/><figcaption>\n<p style=\"font-size:12px\">A Central Arizona Project canal carries Colorado River water to the Phoenix metropolitan area. (Photo by DougVonGausig\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usbr.gov\/ColoradoRiverBasin\/post2026\/final-eis\/docs\/ES\/P26_FEIS_ExecSummary_508.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">new federal plan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> released Friday could mean cuts of up to 77% to Arizona\u2019s share of Colorado River water, in the midst of a 25-year megadrought, something that state leaders say would cause catastrophic harm to the state\u2019s economy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cSuch reductions would devastate Arizona\u2019s water users and its economy,\u201d the Arizona Department of Water Resources said in a statement denouncing the plan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Lower Basin states \u2014 Arizona, Nevada and California \u2014 and the Upper Basin states \u2014 Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming \u2014 have been <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/azmirror.com\/2026\/02\/03\/arizona-faces-outsized-burden-if-colorado-river-states-miss-february-deadline\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">attempting to negotiate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> an updated water usage agreement for more than two years. So far, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/azmirror.com\/2026\/02\/13\/arizona-blasts-upper-basin-states-for-refusing-cuts-as-colorado-river-talks-fail\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">they\u2019ve been unsuccessful.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cFor many months it has been clear that the direction of Colorado River negotiations has been an exercise in lowering expectations, particularly for a long-term, seven-state agreement on operating this vital river system,\u201d ADWR said in the statement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<aside>        <a href=\"https:\/\/azmirror.com\/subscribe\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" aria-label=\"Get the morning headlines delivered to your inbox.\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"subscribeShortcodeContainer\">\n<div class=\"subscribeTextContainer\">\n                <i class=\"fas fa-envelope\"><\/i><\/p>\n<p>GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"subscribeButtonContainer\">\n<div>SUBSCRIBE<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>        <\/a><br \/>\n        <\/aside>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Colorado River is a vital source of drinking water for 40 million people in the seven states, Mexico and 30 Native American tribes, and it provides water for farming operations and hydroelectricity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">All seven states were parties to the Colorado River Compact, a 1922 agreement governing the river\u2019s water use that allocates 7.5 million acre-feet of water each year to be shared by the Upper Basin states and another 7.5 million to be used among the Lower Basin states.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An acre-foot of water is enough to cover an acre of land to a depth of one foot, or about 325,851 gallons. That\u2019s enough to provide three homes in Arizona a year of water, on average.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Since forming the compact, the states have updated their water usage guidelines several times, even though the apportionments remain the same. But Lower Basin states face cuts mandated by the federal government during times of drought and Upper Basin states do not.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The existing water usage rules expire at the end of the year, so setting new rules is imperative to the states as the river\u2019s water supply continues to decline due to a 25-year drought spurred on by climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Water officials in Arizona and the Lower Basin states have criticized the Upper Basin states for their refusal to agree to any federally mandated water usage cuts of their own. While the Lower Basin states insist that every state take their fair share of cuts, Upper Basin states have argued that they\u2019ve never used their full allotment and already face regular cuts and shortages based on physical availability of water.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Riley Snow, director of the water law department at Rose Law Group, told the Arizona Mirror that he viewed the Upper Basin\u2019s refusal to take mandatory cuts as a \u201ctragedy of the commons.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI just don&#8217;t feel like it&#8217;s good policy,\u201d he said. \u201cIt&#8217;s not good for the Southwest, essentially, especially Arizona (and) California, to not get what they&#8217;re entitled to under the compact just because the Upper Basin is in a drought and feeling like they need to hold on to everything that they can.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Arizona faces an outsized burden when it comes to reductions because the Central Arizona Project, a series of canals that supplies Colorado River water to the Valley and the Tucson area, is one of the newest users of the river water, making it legally one of the first to be cut.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But Snow said now isn\u2019t the time for Arizonans to panic, as the state has prepared for potential Colorado River cuts via groundwater banking and increasing efficiency. Beyond that, 70% of the state\u2019s water goes toward agriculture, where adopting more efficient practices, fallowing land and growing less thirsty crops could make a big difference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After negotiations with the Upper Basin were unfruitful earlier this year, the Lower Basin states in May offered their own proposal to reduce their shared usage by 1.25 million acre-feet annually in 2027 and 2028, with about a 30% cut for Arizona.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This proposal was aimed at helping to stabilize water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the system\u2019s two key reservoirs, whose water levels fell this month to their <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/qanr.usu.edu\/coloradoriver\/files\/research\/reservoir-moment.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">lowest level<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> since 1957.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Without a major turnaround in hydrologic conditions, water levels in Lake Powell are expected to fall by next spring to below \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usbr.gov\/newsroom\/news-release\/5326\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">minimum power pool<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">,\u201d at which point the Glen Canyon Dam\u2019s hydroelectric turbines would be unable to operate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Trump administration\u2019s \u201cpreferred alternative\u201d plan, part of an Environmental Impact Statement released Friday, could reduce the Lower Basin\u2019s allocation by 3 million acre-feet per year, slashing Arizona\u2019s water supply from the river by\u00a0 more than 75%. But there\u2019s still a possibility that the federal government could implement the Lower Basin\u2019s proposal instead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The federal government\u2019s new river usage rules, which are still being negotiated, will be released later this year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWhile this (Federal Environmental Impact Statement) still contains unacceptable options that include the federal government forcing Arizona to take the majority of draconian water cutbacks, implementing the Lower Basin agreement would protect Arizona from massive water cuts, distribute reductions more fairly across the Lower Basin States, and provide stability and protection to the water supply that our communities rely upon,\u201d Gov. Katie Hobbs said in a statement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In March, Arizona retained the high-powered law firm Sullivan &amp; Cromwell to represent the state in possible litigation among the Colorado River Basin states and the federal government.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But Snow, who represents water law clients in both Arizona and Utah, told the Mirror that he doesn\u2019t see any litigation in the immediate future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Instead, he said that Arizona and the other Lower Basin states should focus on convincing the Trump administration to implement the proposal they presented in May and to put some federal funding behind it. After that, he said, the states can come together to create a long term seven-state solution.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hobbs said forcing Arizona to take on such devastating cuts will have repercussions across the American economy and national security.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cArizona provides the agricultural produce, critical minerals, weapons defense systems and cutting-edge semiconductors that feed America, protect America and fuel America\u2019s high-tech economy,\u201d Hobbs said in the statement. \u201cNo other state in the Colorado River basin can say the same. We developed the Lower Basin Proposal to increase water resiliency for the region and ensure that no single state was bearing the burden alone.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Arizona politicians from across the political spectrum released statements on Friday, agreeing that the state shouldn\u2019t bear the brunt of the cuts without sacrifice from the other basin states.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8220;Arizona recognizes the serious condition of the Colorado River, and we are prepared to be part of a responsible solution,\u201d Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen said in a statement. \u201cWhat we will not accept is a federal plan that protects some states while placing a devastating and disproportionate burden on Arizona. Our state has already conserved enormous amounts of water and made difficult sacrifices to protect this river.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Arizona Senate Democrats urged the federal government to build its rules for 2027 and 2028 around the Lower Basin proposal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8220;Water is the foundation of our communities and our economy,&#8221; Senate Democratic Whip Rosanna Gabald\u00f3n said in a statement. &#8220;Our farmers, tribal nations, businesses, and families have worked for decades to use water responsibly. Arizona should not be punished for leading on conservation while others refuse to do their part.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<aside>        <a href=\"https:\/\/azmirror.com\/donate\/?oa_referrer=midstorybox\" style=\"text-decoration:none\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"donateContainer\">\n<div class=\"donateTextContainer\">\n<p>YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"donateButtonContainer\">\n<div>SUPPORT<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>        <\/a><br \/>\n        <\/aside>\n<p class=\"inmi-source\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/azmirror.com\/2026\/07\/31\/the-trump-administrations-draconian-water-cuts-could-gut-arizona-colorado-river-supply\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">News \u2013 World \u2013 Phoenix \u2013 rss.app2 \u2192 manual entry<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new federal plan released Friday could mean cuts of up to 77% to Arizona\u2019s share of Colorado River water, in the midst of a 25-year megadrought, something that state leaders say would cause catastrophic harm to the state\u2019s economy.\u00a0\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15236536,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[136],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15236534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-phoenix"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1.jpg",1024,575,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1-300x168.jpg",300,168,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1-620x348.jpg",620,348,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1-768x431.jpg",768,431,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1-940x528.jpg",940,528,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1.jpg",1024,575,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1.jpg",1024,575,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1-998x575.jpg",998,575,true],"ignition_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1-670x446.jpg",670,446,true],"ignition_item_lg":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1.jpg",1024,575,false],"ignition_article_media":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1-510x510.jpg",510,510,true],"ignition_minicart_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1-160x160.jpg",160,160,true],"profile_24":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1-24x24.jpg",24,24,true],"profile_48":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1-48x48.jpg",48,48,true],"profile_96":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1-96x96.jpg",96,96,true],"profile_150":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"profile_300":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/15236534-central-az-project-canal-colorado-river-water-getty-rf-1024x575-1-300x300.jpg",300,300,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"news.iNthacity","author_link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/author\/atombo\/"},"category_info":"<a 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