Feds outline ‘necessary steps’ for Colorado River agreement by 2026 but no recommendation yet
Federal water officials made public on Wednesday what they called “necessary steps” for seven states and multiple tribes that use Colorado River water and hydropower to meet an August 2026 […]
Water director wants $1M for potential lawsuit over sharing Colorado River
The state’s top water official is making contingency plans for a court fight if a deal can’t be worked out with other states for how to divide up Colorado River […]
Colorado River states await water cuts, plan ahead
The federal government is expected to announce water cuts soon that would affect some of the 40 million people reliant on the Colorado River, the powerhouse of the U.S. West.
Water-rich Gila River tribe near Phoenix flexes its political muscles in a drying West
Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis has leveraged the Gila River tribe's water abundance to help Arizona, making his tribe a power player in the parched region.
Tribes say their future is at stake as they push for Congress to consider Colorado River settlement
Within the heart of the Navajo Nation and in the shadow of the sandstone arch that is the namesake of the tribal capital, a simple greeting and big smiles were shared over and over again Friday as tribal officials gathered: "Yá'át'ééh abíní!"
Gila River Indian Community rejects states’ plan for Colorado, works with feds
The Gila River Indian Community said it does not support a plan backed by three states for managing the Colorado River’s shrinking water supply, and is instead working with federal officials to develop its own proposal for water sharing.
Navajo nation settles tribal rights for Colorado River
A Native American tribe with one of the largest outstanding claims to water in the Colorado River basin is closing in on a settlement with more than a dozen parties, putting it on a path to piping water to tens of thousands of tribal members in Arizona who still live without it.
Water managers weigh Colorado River’s future
The annual Colorado River Water Users Association met this week, but for the first time in several years, state water policy leaders say there’s less urgency for short-term fixes and more time to focus on long-term solutions.
New climate report shows impact of drying on human health in Southwest
The arid West is getting drier, and shrinking water supplies pose a boatload of risks to human health throughout the region.
Solar panels will cut water loss from canals in Gila River Indian Community
In a move that may soon be replicated elsewhere, the Gila River Indian Community recently signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to put solar panels over a stretch of irrigation canal on its land south of Phoenix.
What a difference a year makes for Arizona water
With November marking the first anniversary of the major overhaul of the Water Infrastructure Authority of Arizona (WIFA) – the body now charged with securing new water supplies and conserving water for Arizona – it’s a good time to reflect on the challenges we’ve faced, the progress we’ve made, and WIFA’s future.
Tap water is cheap, but old pipes, a shrinking Colorado could change that
With infrastructure that is aging and needs replacement, municipal water departments in the Colorado River basin are starting to invest in new systems that will help cities adapt to a future with a smaller water supply. But that means big spending, costs that will get passed along to the millions of people who use that water in sinks, showers and sprinklers.