Arizona Fights Federal Colorado River Cut Plan

Arizona water officials are reviewing a federal plan to reduce Colorado River use, identifying "fundamental legal flaws" but acknowledging it provides a temporary respite. The plan calls for a reduction of 760,000 acre-feet per year from Arizona's allocation, with the possibility of deeper cuts within two years.

State representatives are resolving to use this two-year period to adapt and secure new water sources, emphasizing the need for state funding. While currently processing news of Nevada's lawsuit against the federal government over the plan, Arizona has not commented on its own legal strategies but reserves its right to sue.

The proposed cuts are expected to disproportionately affect the Central Arizona Project, which supplies significant portions of tap water to the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Officials are seeking to cap these reductions at 1.25 million acre-feet for the next two years, rejecting a federal framework that suggests potential cuts up to 3 million acre-feet in the future.

Arizona disputes the federal government's authority to impose cuts solely on Lower Basin states and objects to a framework extending beyond two years. The state aims to negotiate a more favorable program, potentially seeking greater contributions from Upper Basin states to address the shortage.

Cities will require substantial financial aid, estimated in the billions, to develop new infrastructure for adapting to reduced river water. This includes shifting to stored groundwater and investing in new pipelines and treatment plants, with state officials also exploring augmentation options like seawater desalination.