Governor Katie Hobbs and ADWR Join Nevada in Colorado River Lawsuit to Block Federal Cuts to Lower Basin Water Supplies
Phoenix, AZ – Today, Governor Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) announced the State of Arizona has intervened in a lawsuit brought by Nevada against the Department of the Interior to hold the federal government accountable for failing to enforce Upper Basin water delivery obligations to Lake Mead and prevent cuts of up to 3 million acre-feet per year. In joining this lawsuit, the State will seek to preserve the two-year Lower Basin Agreement while ensuring the federal government is delivering the water to Lake Mead that belongs to Arizona and the Lower Basin states.
“Arizona has always been willing to do our part to protect the Colorado River, but we will not accept a forced federal plan that solves this crisis on the backs of our families, farmers, and businesses," said Governor Katie Hobbs. "We are drawing a line in the sand. I am taking this legal action alongside Nevada because the federal government refuses to hold the Upper Basin accountable for the water deliveries they owe Arizona, and is threatening to force draconian cuts that go well beyond the Lower Basin Agreement. While we ensure our voice is heard in court, we’ll continue working alongside Nevada and California to implement the Lower Basin Agreement and prevent a devastating cut to Arizona’s Colorado River water.”
“Intervention in the Nevada lawsuit is necessary at this time for Arizona to protect its legal rights to Colorado River water while preserving a path forward to achieving a collaborative outcome with California and Nevada to protect the Colorado River system,” said ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke.
The Lower Basin Agreement is an agreement between Arizona, California and Nevada to protect the future of the Colorado River and prevent forced federal cuts that would slash the Central Arizona Project’s Colorado River allocation by 77% over the next two years. In the Agreement, Lower Basin states commit to conserve over 3.2 million acre-feet in 2027 and 2028 to stabilize the Colorado River system. Finalizing the Lower Basin Agreement remains a priority for the State of Arizona.
Joining this lawsuit ensures that Arizona can protect the State’s interests in any legal outcome and challenge elements of the federal Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision that unlawfully fail to require deliveries from Upper Basin water reservoirs to Lake Mead. These federal decisions could result in 3 million acre-feet per year in cuts to the Lower Basin states, inflicting devastating water reductions while the Upper Basin States avoid any required conservation.
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