Arizona moves to join Nevada's lawsuit over federal Colorado River plan

The Arizona Department of Water Resources announced Friday that Arizona filed a motion to intervene in Nevada's lawsuit challenging the federal decision on Colorado River water allocation, the Deseret News reported. The lawsuit, brought with the Colorado River Commission of Nevada and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, asks the court to block the decision until what it calls legal and technical shortcomings are resolved. ^[1]

Arizona department Director Tom Buschatzke said the state believes the federal framework ignores basic elements of the law of the river and could cut Arizona's apportionment in ways that would devastate its economy. Under the plan, Arizona would absorb a 760,000 acre-foot annual cut, roughly 27% of its allocation. Buschatzke said the cuts could effectively dry up the Central Arizona Project and that the federal decision puts the burden of sacrifice on three states. He said joining the suit gives Arizona a seat at the table if the case moves forward, and that litigation was never the preferred path. ^[1]

The Interior Department decision, released Aug. 21, would set guidelines for 2027 through 2028 while states return to negotiations on a longer-term deal. The four Upper Basin states, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming, face no mandatory reductions and are subject to voluntary conservation goals. The three Lower Basin states, Arizona, California and Nevada, could be required to cut use by up to 3 million acre-feet, with Arizona expected to take 61% of the cuts, California 35% and Nevada 4%. Buschatzke told the Deseret News Arizona has not yet begun negotiating with Upper Basin states since August. ^[1]

The report said Lake Powell, which sits between Utah and Arizona, is dropping about 3 to 4 feet a month and could stop generating electricity. ^[1]