Arizona is intervening in a lawsuit filed by the state of Nevada challenging the U.S. Interior Department’s plan that would drastically cut Arizona's share of Colorado River water from restricting deliveries from Lake Mead. Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke announced the state's intention Oct. 16.
Nevada filed suit in federal district court in Nevada on Aug. 24, three days after Interior Secretary Doug Burgumsigned the plan to restrict water use in Arizona, California and Nevada, collectively known as the Lower Basin states.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the agency that manages water use in the Colorado and other waters in the West, issued a plan that would cut deliveries to the Lower Basin by 1.25 million acre-feet of deliveries to the river’s
Lower Basin states in each of the next two years, including 760,000 acre-feet from Arizona.
The Central Arizona Water Conservation Board authorized legal action if necessary to fight the drastic reduction in September. Friday's action was initiated by the state.
Buschatzke said the federal government's plans would potentially dry up the CAP system.
He also said negotiations among the Lower Basin states to come up with a plan on managing cuts to the states are ongoing.
"But we were concerned that the Nevada suit may begin moving forward and Arizona wanted to protect its right to give its viewpoint," Buschatzke said.
He said cities and other water delivery agencies should still continue planning for reductions of 660,000 acre feet in 2027 and 2028.
"This is no cause to pause conservation and other planning," he said.
This is an ongoing story.
Debra Krol reports on Indigenous communities at the confluence of climate, culture and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. Reach Krol at debra.krol@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @debkrol and on Bluesky at @debkrol.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona joins Nevada's lawsuit challenging federal Colorado River cuts
