Central Arizona Project president says feds ‘bought the lies’ on Colorado River plan
Terry Goddard says Arizona should be outraged that the plan requires lower basin states to cut water use by 20% while upper basin states face none.
MARBLE CANYON, ARIZONA - JULY 30: Raft tour guides prepare rafts for a trip on the Colorado River on July 31, 2026 in Marble Canyon, Arizona. In July, the combined water of Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the country's two biggest reservoirs, fell to their lowest levels since 1957. The unprecedented low in combined storage prompted the U.S. Department of the Interior to mandate twenty percent cuts in water usage for the next two years for Arizona, California and Nevada. Seven U.S. states and Mexico depend on the Colorado River Basin, which supplies water to more than 35 million people and is the water source for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The president of the Central Arizona Project accused the Department of the Interior on Friday of siding with Upper Basin states and accepting false claims about water obligations in the newly released Colorado River management plan.
The Central Arizona Project is the state’s largest supplier of renewable water, delivering Colorado River water to Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties through a 336-mile canal system.
“The Department of Interior basically bought their lies,” Terry Goddard told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos, referring to Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico, which have refused to agree to any water reductions even in the most extreme shortage conditions.
The remarks came hours after the Bureau of Reclamation published its final environmental impact statement outlining how the Colorado River will be managed after current guidelines expire later this year.
The plan requires Arizona, California and Nevada to curb their combined water use by roughly 20% over the next two years. Upper Basin states face no mandatory reductions.
“I think Arizona should be outraged at what came out today,” Goddard said.
Goddard noted Arizona and its Lower Basin partners had expected a 20-year framework. Instead, the federal government delivered a two-year stopgap that largely adopted voluntary cuts the three states had already agreed to.
He added the Upper Basin states told negotiators they would not take “a single gallon” in cuts. The Upper Basin states issued a joint statement Thursday defending their position.
Goddard acknowledged water bills for Arizona residents will likely rise.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments
2 Comments
The head of the Department of the Interior is Trump loyalist Doug Burgum of North Dakota. North Dakota is not a basin state or a user of Colorado River water. His department determines, loosely based on a 100 year old pact, who gets preference in using water. Who is governor of California? Trump foe Gavin Newsom. Who is governor of Arizona? Democrat Katie Hobbs. Republican Joe Lombardo of Nevada, another Trump loyalist, is the odd man out in the lower basin. How Nevada, the 6th fastest growing state, is hurt by inequitable cuts is collateral damage in the lower basin cuts. So, does distribution depend on current need? No. Does distribution depend on who is penalized or rewarded based on what Trump wants and who his enemies are?
You make the call.
Oh well, time to sell the farm.