Arizona Water Watch News

The Colorado River winds through the Grand Canyon in Arizona in an aerial photo taken July 7, 2025. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images)

HEIDI HOMMEL

As the Grand Canyon’s river is drying up a $50 million industry is going with it

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)

DAVID IVERSEN

Central Arizona Project president says feds ‘bought the lies’ on Colorado River plan

KEVIN STONE

Gov. Katie Hobbs pushes back on ‘unacceptable’ terms in federal Colorado River proposal

colorado river water cuts arizona california nevada

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Arizona, California, Nevada would get less Colorado River water under new federal proposal

LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, ARIZONA - JULY 25: The two Arizona Intake Towers (L) and two Nevada Intake Towers on the upstream side of the Hoover Dam are shown on July 25, 2026 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona. This month, the combined water level of Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the country's two biggest reservoirs, fell to their lowest level since 1957, when the Glen Canyon Dam was being built and before Lake Powell was filled. The unprecedented low in combined storage could mean water and power shortages for the seven U.S. states and Mexico that depend on the Colorado River Basin, which supplies water to more than 35 million people, irrigates about 5 million acres of farmland, and generates hydropower from federal dams. The worsening water crisis could also influence ongoing negotiations between the seven states on water rights and usage. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

HEIDI HOMMEL

Lake Powell could lose the ability to generate power by early 2027

The mayor of Kearny, a town located between Phoenix and Tucson, believes its water supply will make it through the rest of this year after implementing strict water restrictions and receiving some help from others.

KYLIE WERNER

Kearny mayor says town’s water supply should last through this year, but 2027 is questionable

ASU Global Futures professor Jay Famiglietti will receive an award from the United Nations for his work using NASA satellites to map groundwater. (WISE photos)

HEIDI HOMMEL

ASU professor wins United Nations award for using NASA satellites to map groundwater

The Latest

SERENA O'SULLIVAN | Jul 15, 2026
Could Arizona communities share water during shortages? Phoenix is taking the first step

Phoenix voted to join a statewide water-sharing framework to prepare for future Colorado River cuts, but the program is still in its early stages.
HEIDI HOMMEL | Jul 15, 2026
Arizona university researchers study how to increase shrinking groundwater supplies

The Arizona Tri-University Recharge Project used satellite-based methods to find where the most water is being lost.
HEIDI HOMMEL | Jul 8, 2026
How did last year’s Dragon Bravo Fire impact Grand Canyon water supply?

NAU researchers are studying how the Dragon Bravo Fire burn scar on the North Rim is changing the quality of the Grand Canyon drinking water supply.
HEIDI HOMMEL | Jul 1, 2026
Amid other struggles, Arizona farmers brace for more Colorado River water cuts

Arizona farmers have been dealing with Colorado River water cuts for years and are bracing for more.
HEIDI HOMMEL | Jun 24, 2026
Scottsdale braces for Colorado River water cuts by looking for new sources

The city of Scottsdale is looking to acquire new water sources as it braces for Colorado River water cuts.
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KYLIE WERNER | Jun 17, 2026
Peoria, Cave Creek partner on innovative water exchange

The city of Peoria and town of Cave Creek are addressing Colorado River shortages and Central Arizona Project reductions through a water exchange agreement.
HEIDI HOMMEL | Jun 17, 2026
Arizona agencies take step to buying desalinated ocean water from California

Arizona agencies have taken a key step that could eventually allow the state to buy desalinated ocean water from Southern California.
SERENA O'SULLIVAN | Jun 12, 2026
Navajo Nation declares state of emergency over the ‘severe’ drought conditions

The Navajo Nation has declared an emergency declaration as severe drought conditions worsen across the Southwest. What will that accomplish?
HEIDI HOMMEL | Jun 10, 2026
Arizona gets $20 million EPA grant to address PFAS, other contaminants in drinking water

Arizona recently received a $20 million grant from the EPA to address PFAS and other contaminants in drinking water.
PAYNE MOSES | Jun 8, 2026
Canyon Lake closing in fall for safety inspections, maintenance

Canyon Lake, a popular reservoir about 45 minutes east of Phoenix, will be closed about four months to visitors due to maintenance work beginning on Sept. 16.
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SERENA O'SULLIVAN | Jun 8, 2026
Arizona lake closed due to potential safety hazards after fish kill event

Access to San Carlos Lake has been restricted after a catastrophic fish kill left decomposing fish in the area, authorities said.
HEIDI HOMMEL | Jun 3, 2026
How Phoenix leads by example when it comes to water conservation

The city of Phoenix is modeling the behavior it would like to see from its residents when it comes to water conservation.
SERENA O'SULLIVAN | May 29, 2026
Grand Canyon’s water system will finally be modernized. How will that impact visitors?

After years of Grand Canyon water issues, including pipeline breaks, NPS is moving forward with a modernization plan.
HEIDI HOMMEL | May 27, 2026
Arizona judge sides with homebuilders in dispute over state groundwater supply requirements

Arizona homebuilders recently scored a legal win in their lawsuit over state groundwater requirements, paving the way for new development.
ASSOCIATED PRESS | May 26, 2026
Colorado River quandary: Protect fish in Grand Canyon or generate hydropower?

As the Colorado River and its reservoirs shrink from overuse and climate change, officials are faced with a decision that pits conservation against electricity costs.
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DAVID IVERSEN | May 22, 2026
Phoenix advances water conservation with smart toilet leak detection program

Phoenix grows its water conservation efforts with smart leak detection sensors at Fillmore Gardens, aiming to cut waste and boost drought resilience.
HEIDI HOMMEL | May 20, 2026
Arizona, lower basin states unveil Colorado River plan to save Lake Mead

Arizona, California and Nevada have struck a Colorado River deal to conserve 3.2 million acre-feet over two years and slow Lake Mead's decline.
HEIDI HOMMEL | May 13, 2026
West Valley city drilling 3 new groundwater wells to meet growing demand

The West Valley city of Peoria is undertaking a $40 million project to drill three new groundwater wells to help meet increasing demand.
ASSOCIATED PRESS | May 8, 2026
Arizona, California, Nevada announce temporary plan to cut Colorado River water use

Arizona, California and Nevada said they will cut back their Colorado River water usage as talks for a more extensive plan continue.
HEIDI HOMMEL | May 6, 2026
City of Phoenix braces for Colorado River cuts, plans to tap reserves

Phoenix says it's not running dry, but the city will need to tap backup water supplies to meet demand over the next 10 years amid looming Colorado River cuts.
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SERENA O'SULLIVAN | Apr 29, 2026
Court ruling could spare Chandler residents $1.7M a year in taxes for undelivered water

Chandler residents may be one step closer to ending about $1.7 million a year in property taxes paid to RWCD for water they don't get.
HEIDI HOMMEL | Apr 29, 2026
Can SRP meet Valley’s water demand with reservoirs almost half empty?

SRP is confident that it has plenty of water to supply the Valley despite an unusually warm start to the year and low reservoir levels.
ASSOCIATED PRESS | Apr 22, 2026
Lake Powell, a Colorado River reservoir, needs infusion to maintain power generation

After the driest winter on record, officials want to raise the level of badly depleted Lake Powell on the Colorado River to keep its hydropower humming.
HEIDI HOMMEL | Apr 22, 2026
Volunteers clean up Phoenix’s Tres Rios Wetlands to benefit wildlife, community

Volunteers filled up an entire dumpster with trash following a cleanup operation at the Tres Rios Wetlands earlier this month.
HEIDI HOMMEL | Apr 15, 2026
New AI tool detects drought conditions at over 80% of Arizona’s rivers and streams

Over 80% of Arizona’s rivers and streams are experiencing drought conditions, and there’s no relief in sight, according to a new AI forecasting tool.