Follow-up: Arizona: Governor Joins Lawsuit Over Colorado River Cuts as Interior Secretary Responds
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs announced on October 16 that Arizona is joining Nevada's lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior over the federal Colorado River cut plan. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum responded publicly this week in an interview with Tucson's 13 News, saying the governor is wrong to fight the cuts in court and calling Arizona's first two years of cuts completely manageable.
Under the federal plan signed on August 21, according to the Bureau of Reclamation, Arizona, California and Nevada would cut a combined 1.25 million acre-feet of Colorado River water per year in 2027 and 2028. Under the Lower Basin states' proposed sharing arrangement, Arizona's share would be about 760,000 acre-feet a year. The cuts begin January 1, 2027.
In her October 16 release, Hobbs said Arizona is drawing a line in the sand, and that the federal government refuses to hold the Upper Basin accountable for water deliveries owed to Arizona. A spokesperson said the governor would rather negotiate than fight in court, but that the federal government and the Upper Basin left Arizona with no choice.
Burgum said litigation does not create more water, noted that Arizona holds among the most junior water rights of the seven basin states, and said a court fight would be a bad deal for Arizona. He said the plan also aims to keep Lake Powell from dropping below 3,510 feet to support operational reliability at Glen Canyon Dam. Negotiations among the seven basin states over post-2026 river rules are continuing.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：亚利桑那州议会大厦（Phoenix）。摄影：w_lemay，CC BY-SA 2.0（Wikimedia Commons）。Photo: the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix. Photo by w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
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