Last year the Kyl Center for Water Policy introduced a new blog series featuring updates on Colorado River, groundwater and other water policy issues in Arizona.
The next two years will be pivotal as stakeholders negotiate the reservoir operating rules that dictate Colorado River shortages in our state, and these shortages will impact our groundwater. We will try to bring some clarity through light-hearted updates featuring a movie theme. This is our fifth segment in this series. We hope you enjoy it!
News: We Are Still Alive!
Yes, storage in Lakes Powell and Mead has fallen from more than 45 million acre-feet in 1999 to more than 25 million in 2007 to only around 15 million in 2025. That stinks. But necessity is the mother of invention. Consider that were it not for the millions of acre-feet of water left in Lake Mead by Arizona and others in the form of system conservation, assigned water and outright cuts, we would already be in much more trouble. So we are here to celebrate the heroic efforts of the water managers, negotiators and system operators without whose creativity and invention of mitigation tools the story would have been far grimmer. Now, how much do we have left to eat?
News: Arizona Will Remain in Tier 1 Shortage in 2026
The good news is that we’re not in a deeper shortage tier, but farmers in Pinal County Arizonawill remain without much access to Colorado River water for their crops, and there will be less Colorado River water available for aquifer recharge in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties. Importantly, the reservoirs are not recovering. This points to continued, necessary work on the flux capacitor to take the weather back to 1983. No, you’re not crazy: We said the same thing in our Colorado River update last August.
News: The Navajo Nation Broke Ground on a New Water Treatment Plant
This is great news! The San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant, located along Navajo Route 36 near Shiprock, New Mexico is expected to be completed by late 2028. It will help secure clean drinking water for more than 200,000 people, including communities in Arizona. Meanwhile, the Nation, alongside the Hopi Tribe and the San Juan Southern Paiute community, continues work on congressional approval for the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act.
News: Arizona Legislators Are Working on the Game Plan
According to the Arizona Capitol Times, Arizona legislators report they are ready to focus on a “game plan” for getting a potential Colorado River deal across the goal line should one appear. This is good news. Arizona is the only Colorado River state that requires legislative approval for the state to sign on to any seven-state bargain. Huddle up team!
News: The Hail Mary Ball Is in the Air!
Word is that the Hail Mary idea of splitting the water based on natural flow at Lee’s Ferry has yet to produce a touchdown. We hope the rumor mill is wrong. The good news is that negotiators continue to work against the odds to achieve some kind of outcome that all can agree is better than litigation. However, the game clock is ticking down. In the event the wide receiver bobbles the ball in the endzone, the Kyl Center has developed a new explainer on what happens if no agreement is reached.
Photo credits: IMDB, Twentith Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, Oscilloscope Laboratories, Films for the Planet, Walt Disney Pictures and Universal Pictures.
News: The Kyl Center for Water Policy Has Stuff You Should Explore!
