Arizona, California and Nevada have agreed on a plan to conserve 3 million acre-feet from the Colorado River over the next three years, and the Lower Basin Plan has the support from all seven Colorado River Basin States. Read more»
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While six states came up with a consensus plan last week regarding cutting water use from a dwindling supply of the Colorado River, a lone wolf — California — came up with its own. Read more»
Federal officials said they will consider a plan by Arizona and five other Colorado River basin states on how to further cut water consumption, even though the biggest user in the basin – California – has not signed off on it. Read more»
Water from the Colorado River covers more than a third of Arizona's total water usage, but as the state is increasingly losing access to that supply, that loss, and potential future loss, is a focal point of Arizona's state legislature. Read more»
Lake Mead and Lake Powell are currently sitting at a combined storage of 13.1 million acre-feet, which is about a quarter of capacity. In December 1999, Lake Mead sat at 96% capacity and Lake Powell was at 88%. Read more»
"I’m voting for Kirsten Engel in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District to ensure that a vibrant Arizona is ready to face the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead." — Rita Ranch resident Albert Lucero Read more»
Rate increases are in the works for Tucson residents, and the City Council will hold a public hearing ahead of proposed higher costs to living in the city, plus more in local government meetings this week. Read more»
Faced with deep cuts to the water supply, and angry that other states are not doing their share, tribes and local governments in Arizona are increasingly talking about backing off earlier offers to give up some water. Read more»
Tucson City Manager Mike Ortega is recommending the council in 2023 resume taking every bloody pint of Central Arizona Project water its freaking entitled to get, as the feds reduce Arizona's allotment. Read more»
Arizona's political leaders warned any action to prevent climate change would cost too much. Get ready to spend because climate change is here and taking 592,000 acre feet a year of water from the state. Read more»
As the historic drought in the U.S. West continues to push reservoir levels down to new lows, the federal government on Tuesday ordered Arizona and Nevada to cut the amount of water they draw from the Colorado River. Read more»
Arizona will face a drastic cut in the amount of Colorado River water delivered from Lake Mead after federal officials announced Tuesday that the state will lose 21% of its annual allotment next year. Read more»
In June, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton told the U.S. Senate that states using the Colorado River Basin for their water supply have 60 days to create an emergency plan to cut their water usage by 2 to 4 million acre-feet. Read more»
Tucson city staff will ask for an informal nod to move to start working with 190 families who owe $135,000 in back rent, while local school district budgets are set for adoption after state runs late on its spending plan. Read more»
In an effort to keep water levels in Lake Mead from declining at a drastic rate, the city of Phoenix said it will leave an additional 14,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water in the lake this year - joining communities across the state that have made contributions. Read more»
A pilot project in California’s lush Central Valley looks to save water and increase energy efficiency by building solar-panel canopies over existing canals - but such a solution is impractical in Arizona, where costs would be too high and the savings too low. Read more»