Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs confident in path forward ahead of Colorado River meeting

PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs expressed her confidence in a path forward still being possible ahead of her trip to Washington D.C. on Friday for a meeting regarding the Colorado River agreement.

“The Colorado River is at a pivotal moment, and the status quo is not sustainable: the stakes couldn’t be higher,” Hobbs said in a press release Thursday. “I appreciate Secretary (Doug) Burgum convening basin state governors for this conversation after my calls for stronger federal engagement. That level of leadership is necessary, overdue and essential if we are going to break the logjam and reach a durable agreement.”

The basin states face a Feb. 14 deadline to submit a final agreement to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation.

Hobbs and leadership from both parties in the Arizona Legislature sent a joint letter asking Interior Secretary Burgum to guide further negotiations after previous Nov. 11 deadline passed without a deal.

Hobbs also accused the upper basin states of running out the clock by not putting proposals on the table.

Hobbs emphasizes importance of Colorado River water to Arizona, other states

The governor highlighted how Colorado River water not only supports millions of families and tribal nations, but also generates critical hydropower at Glen Canyon and Hoover dams that is an economic driver for communities across the West.

“Arizona is a leader in common sense water conservation policies and we are at the table and ready to compromise, but every state that relies on the Colorado River must share in its protection, not the Lower Basin alone,” Hobbs said.

She added that she will not accept any deal that she believes puts the advanced manufacturing and agricultural economy at risk or shortchanges farmers, businesses and families in the Grand Canyon State.

Hobbs called Arizona “the beating heart” of reshoring, reindustrialization and AI development in the United States.

“Arizona manufactures the most advanced semiconductor chips in the Western Hemisphere. Arizona produces 90% of America’s winter leafy greens,” Hobbs said. “Phoenix is one of the top markets in the world for data centers. We are a leader in advanced manufacturing, including the aerospace and defense industries.”

The governor emphasized that the deal should reflect these things and not undermine them or the priorities that she shares with the Trump administration.

“By striking a deal that protects Arizona’s fair share of Colorado River water, we can continue to onshore critical supply chains for the next 100 years,” Hobbs said. “I look forward to making these points to Secretary Burgum and my fellow governors, and highlighting what is at stake in Colorado River negotiations for the people of Arizona and our country.”

Related

Western governors debate over Colorado River allocations ahead of winter deadlineArizona faces continued Colorado River water cuts, uncertainty about future accessArizona town helps protect Verde River with 2 water conservation projectsCould Arizona communities share water during shortages? Phoenix is taking the first stepArizona university researchers study how to increase shrinking groundwater suppliesHow did last year’s Dragon Bravo Fire impact Grand Canyon water supply?