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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
(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.”
TUCSON, Ariz. — The University of Arizona will host a special series of sign unveiling ceremonies on Friday, September 4, 2026, honoring the four languages of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT): Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi, & Navajo. These ceremonies represent an important milestone in an ongoing campus-wide initiative to elevate the visibility, recognition, and continued presence of Indigenous languages and cultural heritage within the campus community.
The events are organized by the University of Arizona’s Office of Native American Advancement & Tribal Engagement (NAATE) in collaboration with individual academic colleges. Students, faculty, staff, tribal community members, and the general public are invited to attend the progression of ceremonies throughout the day.
The schedule for the Friday ceremonies includes:
The celebration of Indigenous culture continues into the weekend with the Native American Heritage Game on Saturday, September 5, 2026. The Arizona Wildcats will face Northern Arizona at Casino Del Sol Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 6:30 PM MST. Pre-game festivities at Bear Down Field will begin at 3:15 PM with the Bear Down Bash, featuring 18-minute cultural performances from each tribe. A traditional gift presentation will follow during the Wildcat Walk at 4:15 PM, leading up to an on-field tribal recognition ceremony during the second quarter of the football game.
For more operational schedules or to register for the unveiling events, please visit the official University of Arizona Event Page.
