Western governors debate over Colorado River allocations ahead of winter deadline

PHOENIX — Colorado River water negotiations are ongoing as the basin states now face a Feb. 14 deadline to submit a final agreement to the U.S. Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation.

At the Western Governors Association winter meeting in Paradise Valley, Gov. Katie Hobbs accused the upper basin states of running out the clock by not putting proposals on the table as the previous Nov. 11 deadline passed without a deal.

“The fact is that we’ve put real water sacrifices on the table for Arizona’s Colorado River users and the upper basin hasn’t put any. And that kind of a deal isn’t workable for Arizona,” Hobbs told reporters last month.

The importance of Colorado River water allocations

Hobbs said she has engaged in robust discussions with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, who also attended the WGA winter meeting.

Cox maintained his position and said he would have the same views as Hobbs if he was a lower basin state and that Hobbs would hold his views if she governed an upper basin state.

“We know that the Colorado River is a precious resource. We understand that the hydrology of the river is not what all of us expected it to be and we know that we’re all going to have to work together to figure this out and make sacrifices,” Cox said.

There is less water in the Colorado River than there was decades ago.

“We have had lower than normal runoff for the past 20 years or so,” Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke previously told KTAR News 92.3 FM. He blamed the weak runoff on drought and sustained climate change.

Cox said discussions are still ongoing and that they’re getting closer to a solution. He said the basin states don’t want the federal government to force a settlement, which will be the case if they can’t reach an agreement. Cox added he’s confident they’ll get there.

Gov. Hobbs makes her case for Arizona

In the meantime, Hobbs said she will continue to fight for the water Arizona needs.

“The Colorado River fuels our agriculture industry that is important to Arizona but also feeds 90% of North America’s fresh leafy greens during the winter months,” Hobbs said.

That’s vital for the nutrition of the country, she added.

Hobbs also said Arizona’s water rights are important to national security as the Grand Canyon State is creating the most advanced microchips in the U.S. here in the Valley.

Arizona is also home to 22 of the 30 basin tribes that rely on Colorado River water.

“Our users will not accept a deal where we are waiving our rights to the water that the upper basin owes us,” Hobbs said.

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