Ansari, Stanton, Grijalva, Kelly, Gallego, Demand Equitable Colorado River Protections

Arizona Democratic delegation calls Bureau of Reclamation's draft EIS unworkable for Arizona, underscores impact on tribes, semiconductor and agriculture Industries

Today, Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), Greg Stanton (D-AZ-4), and Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07, along with Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego raised concerns with the Bureau of Reclamation on the recently released Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).

In their letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Andrea Travnicek, the Arizona lawmakers stress that the proposed alternatives in the current DEIS are not viable for Arizona's water security while reaffirming Arizona remains committed to continued negotiations with the Basin States, Reclamation, and the Department of the Interior to reach a balanced, durable long-term framework for the Colorado River.

"We cannot take our focus off securing an agreement that acknowledges the environmental realities of a region plagued by megadrought but demands equitable conservation efforts by all Basin States. But in the DEIS, Reclamation risks pursuing an unsustainable distribution of reductions and responsibilities across the Basin States, placing our constituents and their livelihoods in harm's way," the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers emphasized that the proposal places the burden of reductions on Arizona and the Lower Basin despite the state's continued conservation efforts: "Arizona has and will continue to do its part to protect the Colorado River, but we cannot do it alone. We are deeply troubled that Reclamation all but abandons its increasingly critical role in ensuring the Upper Basin States fulfill their delivery obligations under the Colorado River Compact of 1922 (Compact). However, the DEIS alternatives impose required reductions exclusively on the Lower Basin, despite the region accounting for approximately 75 percent of the Basin's population and economic output. And each alternative, though broad in scope, will translate in practice specifically as drastic reductions to Arizona's water supply."

The delegation also warned that drastic cuts to Colorado River deliveries could have serious consequences for communities across Arizona that rely on the river for their water supply: "Across Arizona, you will find communities whose primary-if not sole-source of water is the Colorado River. The DEIS itself acknowledges that "widespread impacts on social and economic conditions may also be possible," including circumstances in which municipalities may need to pursue alternative or even hauled water sources to maintain basic services. Drastic cuts could have cascading consequences for human health and safety and destabilize the lives and livelihoods of Arizonans, tribal communities, and critical industries that rely on Colorado River supplies."

The lawmakers stressed that any long-term framework for the Colorado River must fully account for tribal water rights and the federal government's trust responsibility to Arizona's tribal nations: "Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, many of whom hold significant Colorado River entitlements that underpin economic and community development, public health, and long-planned water infrastructure investments. Any post-2026 framework for the river must fully account for the unique water rights and needs of tribal communities to fulfill the federal trust responsibility, which the current DEIS fails to meet."

The lawmakers also highlighted the risks the proposed reductions pose to Arizona's economy, including agriculture and the state's growing semiconductor manufacturing sector: "Arizona's agricultural industry supplies essential products-including fresh produce, dairy, beef, and forage crops-that ensure regional and national food security. Reductions of the magnitude contemplated in the DEIS would reverberate across rural communities and throughout the domestic food supply chain. [...] Arizona also boasts the largest concentration of advanced semiconductor manufacturing investment in the country, representing roughly $200 billion in announced projects since 2020. A reliable domestic chip supply is critical to military modernization, artificial intelligence leadership, and global economic competitiveness. The scale of reductions contemplated in the DEIS places these strategic investments at risk."

Absent a durable seven Basin State agreement, a decision on river operations could be handed down from Interior as early as July. A plan for post-2026 river operations must be in place before October 1, to fulfill federal treaty obligations with Mexico and provide certainty for Colorado River water users as they enter a new water year.

The lawmakers closed by urging Reclamation to work with the Basin States to develop a durable and balanced long-term framework for the Colorado River: "Arizona remains committed to working collaboratively with the other Basin States, Reclamation, and the Department of the Interior to reach a balanced and sustainable agreement that protects both the river system and the communities and industries that depend upon it."

Click here to read the full letter.

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