July 28, 2026 3:32 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
July 28, 2026 3:32 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
As 2025 came to a close and 2026 began, water issues across Arizona and the Colorado River Basin remained front and center. New reporting highlighted continued uncertainty around Colorado River negotiations, growing concern over snowpack levels, and major developments in local groundwater and community water planning.
Local Groundwater and Community Water Planning
In western Arizona, the Parker Pioneer reports that an Active Management Area is being proposed for the Ranegras Plain. The proposal reflects growing concern over groundwater depletion and signals a shift toward stronger oversight in areas increasingly relied upon as Colorado River supplies tighten.
Meanwhile, years of uncertainty came to an end for residents of Rio Verde Foothills. Multiple Arizona outlets report that permanent water infrastructure is now coming online, including new pipelines and water filling stations. The long-awaited solution brings relief to residents, local businesses, and even animal sanctuaries, while also serving as a cautionary example of what can happen when development moves forward without secure water planning.
Snowpack and Weather Conditions Raise Red Flags
Snowpack remained a major concern across the Basin. Reports from KJZZ, KTAR News, CBS News, AP News, and several California outlets show that while recent storms boosted snowpack in parts of California, overall levels remain below average for this point in the season.
Officials with the Central Arizona Project acknowledged concern about snowpack levels, though they noted it is still early in the water year. Upstream, conditions appear more troubling. Colorado news outlets report historically low snowpack in some regions, while Utah coverage shows Lake Powell has dropped significantly over the past year, underscoring the fragile state of the system.
Late December also brought renewed uncertainty around water infrastructure projects. Coverage from KJZZ, Colorado outlets, and national public media reports on a presidential veto of a major Colorado water pipeline project. The decision disrupted financing for a project already underway and prompted calls from lawmakers to reconsider or override the veto. (more…)
By Ariana Romero
Reporter, CRIT Media
As 2025 comes to a close, new reporting shows Colorado River negotiations narrowing toward what many leaders describe as a final window for agreement, while local water solutions and long-term risks continue to take shape across the Southwest.
ABC15 Arizona reports that Colorado River states may only have one last realistic chance to reach a deal before federal intervention becomes unavoidable. With existing guidelines set to expire and reservoir conditions still fragile, officials warn that failure to compromise soon could lead to decisions being imposed rather than negotiated.
CBS 5 Arizona’s Family highlights what is at stake specifically for Arizona as talks drag on. The report notes that unresolved negotiations could affect everything from water deliveries to long-term planning for cities, tribes, agriculture, and industry, reinforcing why Arizona leaders are under pressure to help move talks forward.
Several opinion pieces stress the need for compromise in the Upper Basin. Phys.org and the Imperial Valley Press argue that without meaningful concessions, negotiations risk collapse, deepening divisions among states and prolonging uncertainty across the Basin.
At the local level, attention turned to Rio Verde Foothills, a community that famously ran out of water. The Arizona Republic, CBS 5, and AZ Big Media report that a permanent water solution has now been secured, ending years of uncertainty. However, the Arizona Republic notes that questions remain about the long-term cost of that solution, underscoring the financial realities of securing water in unregulated areas.
Water policy and development pressures remain closely linked. The Daily Independent reports that Valley water officials are urging legislators to invest more heavily in water resources, while opinion pieces from Nevada question whether the continued expansion of data centers is compatible with long-term water sustainability.
Conditions on the river itself remain mixed. Newsweek reports on how Lake Mead’s water levels changed throughout 2025, showing modest gains at times but continued overall vulnerability. Meanwhile, CBS News warns that Colorado is facing its worst snowpack on record for this point in the season, a troubling signal for future Colorado River flows, though experts say late-season storms could still offer some relief.
Despite tensions, collaboration remains a recurring theme. An opinion from the University of Colorado Boulder notes that Colorado River discussions continue to bring together unlikely partners through forums like the Colorado River Water Users Association, even as disagreements persist. Another Colorado Sun opinion stresses that public access to rivers and responsible stewardship must remain part of broader water policy discussions.
Together, these reports show a Basin approaching a crossroads. With negotiations nearing a critical moment, local water fixes highlighting real costs, and climate signals raising alarm, decisions made in the months ahead will play a major role in shaping the future of the Colorado River.
Sources
As the year comes to a close, new reporting underscores how unresolved negotiations, worsening climate impacts, and continued growth are colliding across the Colorado River Basin.
The Lake Havasu News-Herald reports that federal officials are demanding compromise from Basin states as water shortages deepen. Despite repeated warnings, states remain divided, prompting stronger signals that the federal government may intervene if agreements are not reached soon.
Several opinion pieces question long-held assumptions about water security. The Sun City Independent argues that Arizona’s promise of “assured” water is increasingly disconnected from reality, while national commentary emphasizes that decades of overuse and delayed action have left little room for error.
Weather extremes continued to dominate headlines. The Los Angeles Times reports that Southern California experienced its wettest Christmas holiday on record, highlighting the growing drought-to-deluge cycle driven by climate change. Despite heavy rain in some areas, drought conditions persist elsewhere, according to California and national drought summaries. In Colorado, the Denver Gazette reports snowpack levels are at the lowest ever recorded for this point in the season, raising serious concerns for future Colorado River flows.
Local and regional responses remain mixed. The Payson Roundup reports progress on water system improvements in Star Valley and a brief return to normal rainfall in Payson, though officials caution that short-term relief does not change long-term conditions. In Nevada, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that rapid growth in Las Vegas is continuing despite the Colorado River crisis, intensifying concerns about sustainability.
Across the Basin, journalists and experts reflected on the year’s biggest water stories. Aspen Journalism and Aspen Public Radio highlight how climate change is worsening drought conditions and pushing leaders toward difficult decisions in 2026. National Parks Traveler reports that declining Colorado River flows are already affecting national park sites along the river, signaling broader environmental consequences.
Some coverage points toward potential paths forward. Fox 13 in Utah explores ideas aimed at easing water conflicts, while opinion pieces emphasize the need for compromise among Upper Basin states. The Sierra Club highlights how Indigenous knowledge and stewardship can play a key role in adapting to climate change and managing water more sustainably.
The Colorado River Indian Tribes Tribal Council has made a historic decision to protect the lifeblood of their Reservation. On November 6, 2025, the Council unanimously approved Resolution No. R-375-25, which proclaims the personhood status of the Colorado River under tribal law.
This resolution acknowledges the Colorado River as a living entity whose health and well-being are intrinsically linked to the well-being of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) members. The Tribes’ deep-rooted connection to the river spans centuries, providing cultural identity, spiritual strength, food systems, and economic stability that continue to shape their community life today.
The resolution emphasizes the central role the river has played in defining the identity of the CRIT. It highlights that CRIT’s ancestors have preserved and protected these lands since before the establishment of the Colorado River Indian Reservation in 1865.
The Council underscores the crucial role the river plays in sustaining traditional practices, wildlife, and agriculture, including the federal irrigation systems authorized as early as 1867. Today, the Colorado River Indian Irrigation Project stands as a cornerstone of the tribal economy.
The resolution underscores significant legal milestones that acknowledged CRIT’s water rights. In the landmark 1964 and 2006 Arizona v. California U.S. Supreme Court decisions, the Tribes secured 719,248 acre-feet of water annually, ensuring their access to the river for generations to come.
By granting personhood to the River, the Tribal Council reaffirmed its sovereign duty to honor and protect it. This status mandates that the River’s well-being must be a priority in governance and decision-making moving forward.
As part of the resolution, the Attorney General and their staff will develop legal safeguards and propose updates to the CRIT Water Code and other relevant regulations. These updates may include the potential designation of the river as a protected cultural landscape.
Council members recognized that protecting the river is not merely a legal obligation but a continuation of cultural beliefs passed down through generations.
Through this declaration, CRIT demonstrates its unwavering commitment to stewardship. The resolution concludes with a resolute message: the Colorado River is, and will always remain, a vital entity deserving of respect, care, and protection for all future generations.
Article Written by CRIT Media Reporter Ariana Romero
News Update November 12, 2025
Negotiations over the future of the Colorado River have reached a standstill after all seven basin states failed to meet a key federal deadline. Reports from 12News and 8NewsNow confirm that the states were unable to agree on a new water-sharing plan, leaving the situation unresolved as the river continues to decline.
High Country News explains that the biggest disagreements involve how much each state should give up in the future. The upper Basin states want fewer mandatory reductions, while the Lower Basin states, including Arizona, say they have already taken the deepest cuts and cannot continue to absorb the majority of the impacts.
With no agreement in place, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has asked the Trump administration to intervene. She stated that Arizona has made significant sacrifices and cannot carry the weight of the reductions while other states refuse to commit to measurable cuts. If the states cannot reach a plan soon, the federal government may create one for them.
For the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the outcome of these negotiations has major importance. CRIT holds valuable senior water rights and relies on a stable and fair management plan to ensure long-term security for the community and the region.
For more information, you can read the news articles with the links below.
High Country News
https://www.hcn.org/articles/why-colorado-river-negotiations-are-so-difficult/
12 News
/wednesday-is-deadline-for-7-state-including-arizona-to-negotiate-the-colorado-river
The Colorado River Indian Tribes have taken a history making step to implement the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2022. At a ceremony on the CRIT Reservation April 26th, leadership from the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the State of Arizona, and the United Staes Department of the Interior signed agreements required under the act.
The Colorado River Indian Tribes Fire Department has some critical equipment to keep fire fighters safe. The department was able to secure new SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) for CRIT fire fighters. This vital piece of equipment helps secure the safety of our fire fighters when entering a structure fire. CRIT Fire says once completion of its procurement process is final, CRIT Fire will be equipped with a total of 14 new SCBAs.
This will help dramatically decrease the chance of smoke inhalation or any form of hazardous vapers or particles floating in the air, along with providing a clean steady flow of oxygen to their masks for breathing.
These SCBA’s were paid for by the tribal homeland security grant with help from grant writer Randy Brawley of Wise Consulting LLC.
The Colorado River Indian Tribes has broken ground on a new Head Start facility recognizing a dream that has taken years to realize. In 2009, Tribal Council designated 12 acres for the permanent site and in the years that followed CRIT has worked jointly and tirelessly to get the necessary funding to make the project happen.
(Parker, Ariz.) Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has a much better understanding of the issues facing the Colorado River Indian Tribes following a visit to the community on March 26th. The Governor was welcomed by CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores and CRIT Farms Manager Joshua Moore. Hobbs and her staff toured some key sites at CRIT that bring into focus agricultural and water issues that are top of mind for both CRIT and Arizona governing bodies.
Hobbs toured the Headgate Dam, irrigation canals, active and fallowed farmland, the Ahakhav Tribal Preserve, among other sites.
Following the tour, Hobbs met with several members of the Tribal Council where she listened to concerns ranging from water rights, water conservation, irrigation systems, sober living homes, tribal sovereignty, and pending water agreements. In addition to Chairwoman Flores, Tribal Council members who spoke with Governor Hobbs included Vice Chairman Dwight Lomayesva, Secretary Johnson Fisher, and Council Members Robert “Bobby” Page, Jaymee Moore, Anisa Patch, and Vanessa Olivares.
Governor Hobbs said, “I just want to say how much I appreciate your leadership on the Colorado River. Recognizing your leadership is why the Chairwoman was on my Water Policy Council where we brought all the stakeholders together. Primarily looking at groundwater issues but recognizing your leadership on water, that was really important to have you there.”
Hobbs said partnerships between CRIT and the State of Arizona should go beyond water issues including broadband and the sober living homes crisis.
Hobbs added that when she ran for Secretary of State years ago, Native American leaders would tell her that politicians only come around when they are seeking votes. Hobbs vowed to be an exception. “As Secretary I worked really hard to build relationships specifically around voting rights and elections. And I knew when I got to the Governor’s office, I really wanted to expand that. And we can be working on so many other issues together. This isn’t the last time you’ll see me. I will be back and not just when I want your votes. I think it’s important to continue those relationships so that you to have a seat at the table.”
Charwoman Flores hoped the visit to CRIT gave Governor Hobbs the opportunity to escape the confines of the State Capitol and learn more about CRIT. Chairwoman Flores said, “Coming on our homelands, it opened up a grounded relationship with her administration. She saw firsthand the deficiencies of our irrigation system and hopefully she will be an advocate for us in getting more funding for our irrigation projects.”
