I don't usually use this platform to comment on national issues, but as this one affects AZ directly, it fits here.
Earlier this week, the federal government announced a plan to deal with the depleted Colorado River, which furnishes waters to a significant portion of the western U.S.
From CNN -
New Colorado River plan will require steep cuts for three states as reservoirs tumble to new lows
California, Arizona and Nevada will be required to slash their water use from the drought-stricken Colorado River by 16 to 20% through 2028, under a federal plan set to be released in the next few days, according to a senior state water official.
But some fear it won’t be enough to save the lifeblood water basin as vital reservoirs plummet toward record lows.
The lower basin states California, Arizona, and Nevada; the upper basin states are Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
While all of the lower basin states are facing water cuts (and as the state with the junior-most water rights among those, AZ would face the most devastating cuts), the upper basin states are facing no cuts at all.
From CBS -
Colorado River plan spares upper basin states from mandatory cuts, for now
The U.S. Department of the Interior has issued its plan for how to manage water on the Colorado River. It comes after Colorado and six other states failed to reach an agreement on releases from two key reservoirs - Lake Powell and Lake Mead.
The river provides drinking water for 40 million people, irrigation for 5 million acres of farmland, and hydropower for seven states. It's been shrinking for the last 20 years.
AZ Democrats responded quickly and loudly.
From Governor Katie Hobbs -
After the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released its Final Environmental Impact Statement for Post-2026 Colorado River Operations, Governor Katie Hobbs issued the following statement:
“Today, the federal government released a broad range of alternatives for how the Colorado River will be managed over the next ten years. Within that range is the opportunity for the federal government to adopt the commonsense, compromise proposal put forward by Lower Basin States for 2027 and 2028. Our proposal is one of the largest conservation programs in Colorado River history and builds on Arizona’s decades-long commitment to responsible water stewardship. While this FEIS still contains unacceptable options that include the federal government forcing Arizona to take the majority of draconian water cutbacks, implementing the Lower Basin agreement would protect Arizona from massive water cuts, distribute reductions more fairly across the Lower Basin States, and provide stability and protection to the water supply that our communities rely upon.
From AZ Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego -
Today, Arizona Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) released the following statement on the Bureau of Reclamation’s Final Environmental Impact Statement for post-2026 operations of the Colorado River:
“The framework outlined in the Department of Interior’s Final Environmental Impact Statement could place an unfair burden on Arizona, including the possibility of reducing the Lower Basin’s Colorado River allocation by as much as 40 percent, without requiring comparable commitments from the Upper Basin. Arizona, California, and Nevada have already put forward a fair, practical proposal to stabilize Lake Mead and Lake Powell through shared conservation, and that proposal should serve as the foundation for the next set of Colorado River operating guidelines 2027 and 2028.
“We remain committed to working with all seven Basin states, Tribal nations, water users, and the federal government to reach a durable agreement that protects Arizona’s water future, strengthens the Colorado River system, and ensures every Basin partner does its part.”
From the City of Phoenix, and its Mayor, Kate Gallego -
"Solving the Colorado River crisis demands a fair, basin-wide solution in which every stakeholder is asked to sacrifice," Mayor Kate Gallego said. "Instead, the federal government takes aim at Arizona and Lower Basin states even though we continue to do our part and conservation is a core part of our water culture. Phoenix is prepared to use less Colorado River water, but it is wrong to lay a disproportionate share of the burden on Arizona."
Now, here is part where I say the quiet part out loud -
Cheeto, aka President Trump, is known to be petty and vindictive.
While this "plan" may harm AZ the most, it will still harm California, and Cheeto absolutely HATES CA.
And he is happy to harm others so long as he can get in a shot at CA.
Of course, Cheeto may consider it a "win-win" situation.
Two of the upper basin states, Utah and Wyoming have Republicans, Trump loyalists both, as governor. Utah has Spencer Cox while Wyoming has Mark Gordon. He may consider helping them to be a good thing; maybe not an intentional one, but one he'll take so long as he hurts CA.
The other two states have Democratic governors.
New Mexico has Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is termed-out and isn't running for re-election, so this scheme won't help her.
Colorado has Jared Polis, who earlier this year, infamously commuted the sentence of election denier and Trump ally Tina Peters and had her released from prison.
It seems that Cheeto has (yet again) used public policy to benefit one of his allies and pay a debt.
