Full Breakdown
Arizona Joins Nevada Lawsuit Over Federal Colorado River Water Cuts
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Arizona Intervenes in Nevada’s Federal Water-Cut Lawsuit
Arizona has moved to intervene in Nevada’s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior, challenging a federal operating framework that could impose large water-supply reductions on the Lower Basin states—Arizona, Nevada and California. The intervention was filed in mid-October, adding Arizona’s legal arguments to those Nevada raised in August. The suit seeks to block the federal plan that would require the Lower Basin to take mandatory cuts through 2028 while exempting the Upper Basin states.
Background & Context
The Colorado River, which supplies water to more than 40 million people across the Southwest, has been in a prolonged megadrought. Reservoirs such as Lake Mead and Lake Powell have fallen to historically low levels because of over-use and a changing climate. In response, the federal government announced new restrictions that could slash water deliveries to the Lower Basin over the next two years, prompting the Interior Department to issue a “Record of Decision” that allocates cuts without requiring Upper Basin states to reduce deliveries.
Data & Statistics
- The federal framework could trigger cuts of up to 3 million acre-feet per year for Lower Basin states.
- The Bureau of Reclamation announced a 760,000-acre-foot reduction for Arizona in the latest allocation round.
- Lake Mead and Lake Powell are at historically low levels, and the Colorado River has produced 25 percent less water than planned since 2000.
Official Statements & Responses
Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke described the intervention as necessary to protect the state’s legal rights and to keep the two-year water-conservation plan in place. The Interior Department’s spokesperson argued that litigation will not add a single drop of water and that the agency will operate in good faith. Mesa’s Water Resources Director Joe Giudice noted the city’s underground storage and 100-year water certification, positioning it to handle potential reductions.
Criticism & Opposition
The federal agency’s view is that litigation does not address the hydrologic realities facing the basin.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
State officials cite potential cuts of up to 3 million acre-feet per year, while the Bureau of Reclamation’s specific allocation for Arizona calls for a 760,000-acre-foot reduction. Both figures appear in official filings, but the sources do not reconcile the disparity, leaving the exact magnitude of the anticipated shortfall unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I am taking this legal action alongside Nevada because the federal government refuses to hold the Upper Basin accountable for the water deliveries they owe Arizona, and is threatening to force draconian cuts that go well beyond the Lower Basin Agreement,” — Katie Hobbs, Arizona governor
- “Arizona has always been willing to do our part to protect the Colorado River, but we will not accept a forced federal plan that solves this crisis on the backs of our families, farmers, and businesses,” — Katie Hobbs
- “This is a drought, and we are going to have a reduction in water supply, but we're pretty well-positioned to handle that,” — Joe Giudice
What’s Next
If a district court rules in favor of Arizona and Nevada, the federal government is expected to appeal, potentially pausing water-allocation decisions during the appellate process. Arizona officials say they will continue negotiations with Nevada and California on a separate Lower Basin Agreement that aims to conserve more than 3.2 million acre-feet in 2027-2028. Mesa’s city council is slated to consider possible utility rate adjustments in early December as part of its preparation for any federal cuts.