Basin states struggle to agree on future water cuts

PHOENIX — For years, ABC15 has been tracking ongoing negotiations among Colorado River Basin states as they work on new long-term water management guidelines set to take effect in 2026.

Deep divisions remain over how to share this critical resource on which 40 million Americans depend.

Arizona’s top water official, Tom Buschatzke, highlighted those concerns at a meeting with state leaders earlier this week.

“This is an internal issue between states. It’s a giant chasm, and that’s the end result for all three of us: Colorado, Arizona and Nevada.”

Buschatzke is referring to proposals introduced in March of this year by Lower Basin states—Nevada, California, Arizona—and Upper Basin states—Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah—as well as other groups. These proposals could change the amount of water allocated to each state in a given year.

According to the University of Arizona, 90% of the river originates as snow in the Rocky Mountains, but the amount of snow cover has been declining in recent decades due to climate change. So because of this, the Upper Basin wants to send less water downstream.

However, the Lower Basin wants all states that depend on the water to do their part to reduce water levels to a certain threshold.

Every proposal is different—too different, too,” Buschatzke said.

“We know that the Upper Basin is still unwilling to consider sharing and the necessary reductions. They haven’t offered us a single gallon off and it’s just not enough to seal the deal.”

If a compromise cannot be reached, the Arizona Department of Water Resources is considering legal action, requesting $1 million in its budget for possible litigation.

“I don’t want litigation,” Buschatzke said. “It’s not going to benefit anyone, but if we get backed into a corner and this is our only choice, then that was the context of this budget request.”

Becky Mitchell, Colorado’s water negotiator and representative of the Upper Basin states, calls the state’s possible legal challenge “disappointing” in a statement to ABC15.

“It is disappointing that Arizona is considering disruptive litigation in the Colorado River Basin. They appear to be trying to avoid reducing their use in sufficient quantities to stabilize the system in a drier future. Upper States are in full compliance with the Colorado River Compact and use millions of acre feet less than we are entitled to each year due to hydrological scarcity and strict water rights management. The Upper Basin states’ alternative would require Lower Basin water users to also take steps to live within available supplies, as Upper Basin water users have done for years.

Colorado is committed to working with other basin states, tribal nations, and the Bureau of Reclamation on collaborative and sustainable solutions to the Colorado River problem. We stand ready to protect Colorado’s important interests on the Colorado River. But I believe the best results, especially for Arizona and other Lower Basin states, come when states negotiate together.

This moment makes it clear that the status quo is not working. We cannot continue to manage Lake Powell and Lake Mead based on demand. We must move to a supply-based system, where actual water supply means the entire Colorado River basin lives within the river’s means.”

The outgoing Biden-Harris administration this week released five proposed alternatives that align with proposals from across the basin.

The proposals will be left to the incoming Trump-Vance administration, with a formal environmental assessment due before the 2026 deadline.