By Howard Fischer | Arizona Capitol Times
Key Points:
- Arizona is embroiled in an interstate dispute over access to the Colorado River
- Gov. Katie Hobbs refuses to agree to any deal unless upper basin states offer firm water conservation plans
- Arizona has set aside $3 million for potential litigation over water rights
On Feb. 2, Gov. Katie Hobbs made her position on the Colorado River clear. Either the “upper basin” states offer up a firm commitment for water conservation, or she won’t agree to any new cuts for Arizona.
But the decision to refuse a deal over the embattled water source would not be without consequence. In fact, it would lead to federal intervention by way of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who would impose his own solution on the seven states that draw water from the river.
The caveat? Burgum has so far refused to do more than convene the governors of the affected states. And Terry Goddard, president of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, which oversees the state’s Colorado River supply, said the options put forward by the Interior Department “are not palatable to Arizona or California,” one of the two other “lower basin” states.
“All Burgum’s done is set us up for litigation,” he told Capitol Media Services. “And I think that’s sad.”
In November, Hobbs asked Burgum to get involved and develop a plan to protect Arizona water users, specifically by requiring conservation in the upper basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah. But on Monday, she did not dispute that — even during Friday’s meeting — all Burgum has done is encourage states to work together.
