Arizona House and Senate Republican leaders proposed immediate actions to address low water levels in the Colorado River system, according to an April 16 announcement by the Arizona House GOP Conference. The proposals include water releases from Upper Basin reservoirs under the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956 and $1 billion in annual federal funding for voluntary conservation through a reverse auction format open to all basin states and Mexico.
The issue is significant as Arizona relies on the Colorado River for a substantial share of its water supply, which is delivered through the Central Arizona Project to serve Phoenix, Tucson, surrounding communities, and agricultural operations. Projections indicate Lake Mead will operate under Tier 1 shortage conditions in 2026 with potential effects on municipal and irrigation deliveries that support the state’s economy and residents. Declining lake levels also impact regional tourism and recreation at Lake Mead and Lake Powell with estimated economic effects in the millions of dollars, according to the Central Arizona Project.
According to the Arizona House GOP announcement, House Speaker Montenegro and Senate President Petersen led Arizona Republican leaders in a meeting with U.S. Department of Interior Assistant Secretary Travnicek and Bureau of Reclamation Acting Commissioner Cameron to advocate for urgent measures on the Colorado River. The delegation called for utilization of the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956 to release water from Upper Basin reservoirs currently holding between 82 and 97 percent capacity to support Lake Powell and prevent dead pool conditions. Leaders also detailed plans for $1 billion per year in federal funds to compensate users for voluntary conservation via a reverse auction system and long-term federal support for augmentation projects including new dams and desalination. according to the Arizona House GOP Conference.
The Colorado River supplies water to approximately 40 million people across seven western states and Mexico while irrigating more than five million acres of farmland and supporting hydropower generation. The 1922 Colorado River Compact allocates 7.5 million acre-feet annually to both the Upper and Lower Basins with additional treaty deliveries to Mexico. Bureau of Reclamation data show the basin has operated with a structural deficit in recent years as consumptive use has exceeded average inflows leading to reduced storage in major reservoirs. Voluntary conservation programs have been implemented across the basin to address these challenges and maintain system reliability,according to Bureau of Reclamation data.
The Arizona House GOP Conference serves as the official caucus for Republican members of the Arizona House of Representatives and coordinates legislative strategy on state priorities. It works on policies focused on economic prosperity, public safety, protection of individual rights, liberties for residents, water resource management, and infrastructure.according to the organization.
