By 12 News
Arizona politicians reacted to the announcement Friday that the Grand Canyon State would take less water from the Colorado River under a federal proposal.
Under the proposal from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Arizona, California and Nevada would potentially face collective cuts through 2036. While Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming are spared from the agreement.
This is how the Arizonans reacted to it:
Partial statement from Governor Katie Hobbs:
“As the federal government finalizes their operating plans for 2027 and 2028, my administration will be working around the clock advocating for an approach that protects the stability of the system, distributes water reductions equitably, and ensures water security for all Colorado River water users. I remain steadfast in my commitment to a long-term Colorado River solution that ensures every state in the system shares in its conservation.
“Arizona provides the agricultural produce, critical minerals, weapons defense systems and cutting-edge semiconductors that feed America, protect America and fuel America’s high-tech economy. No 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. Inequitable, federally imposed cuts to our Colorado River water allocation will be unacceptable to Arizonans, and will put every American at risk. Previous federal proposals to slash Arizona’s Colorado River water would be devastating for our nation as we work to compete with China in the AI race, onshore critical supply chains, feed the country, and rebuild our depleted missile stockpile. I will continue making that case to the federal government and fighting relentlessly to protect Arizona’s fair share of the Colorado River so our families can feel confident we will have the water we need to turn on the taps, nourish our crops, and grow our economy well into the future.”
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego posted on X:
Solving the Colorado River crisis demands a fair, basin-wide solution in which every stakeholder is asked to sacrifice. Instead, the federal gov takes aim at Arizona and Lower Basin states even though we continue to do our part and conservation is a core part of our culture. Phoenix has spent decades planning for a moment like this, and is prepared to use less Colorado River water, but it is wrong to lay a disproportionate share of the burden on Arizona.
