July 21, 2026 1:56 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
July 21, 2026 1:56 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
According to AZPM PBS, potential Colorado River cuts could significantly impact Tucson’s water supply, even though the city has built a more diversified system that includes groundwater and stored Colorado River water. Officials say Tucson is better prepared than some areas, but continued reductions would still require careful management and conservation efforts.
The report highlights how different regions across Arizona will experience the effects of Colorado River shortages in different ways, depending on their water sources and infrastructure. Even with preparation, long-term cuts could still place pressure on supplies.
For CRIT, this shows how deeply communities across Arizona rely on the Colorado River and how future reductions could reshape water use and planning throughout the state.
According to AZPM PBS, negotiations over the Colorado River have stalled, and significant cuts to the Central Arizona Project (CAP) are becoming more likely. CAP delivers Colorado River water to central and southern Arizona, and reductions could impact cities, agriculture, and industries.
With no agreement in place, federal officials may step in to determine how shortages are handled moving forward. The situation reflects ongoing disagreements between basin states over how to share limited water supplies.
For CRIT, CAP reductions are important because they are tied directly to how Colorado River water is allocated and managed, which can influence broader decisions affecting Tribal water rights.
According to the Office of the Arizona Governor, Governor Katie Hobbs has appointed new experts to the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority to help guide Arizona through ongoing water challenges. The authority plays a key role in funding water projects and supporting long-term supply strategies.
The appointments come at a critical time as Arizona faces increasing pressure from Colorado River shortages and the need for infrastructure investment. Officials say strengthening leadership will help improve planning and response efforts.
For CRIT, water infrastructure decisions are closely tied to how water is stored, delivered, and managed, making these leadership roles important for shaping future water policy across the state.
According to Fox 10 Phoenix, record spring heat is already impacting water conditions across the West, accelerating snowmelt and reducing the amount of water that reaches rivers like the Colorado River. Early melting can lead to less efficient water storage and increased evaporation.
Experts warn that these conditions could worsen water shortages as less runoff reaches key reservoirs. The changing climate is making water supply more unpredictable and harder to manage.
For CRIT, reduced runoff into the Colorado River system directly affects water availability and reinforces the need for careful management and protection of water resources.
According to CBS 5 Arizona’s Family, Governor Hobbs is seeking support from national business leaders in Washington, D.C. as Colorado River cuts become more likely. The effort aims to strengthen Arizona’s position in negotiations and highlight the economic risks tied to water shortages.
State leaders are working to build broader coalitions as water issues increasingly intersect with economic and political concerns. The approach reflects how water negotiations now involve multiple sectors beyond government.
For CRIT, expanding influence in water discussions can shape how decisions are made about Colorado River allocations, which ultimately affect Tribal communities and water rights.
According to KUNC Northern Colorado Public Radio, Colorado River negotiations are continuing with a focus on short-term or “stopgap” measures as conditions worsen. With long-term agreements still unresolved, officials are considering temporary solutions to manage shortages.
The report notes that declining snowpack and worsening hydrology are increasing urgency, making it more difficult for states to reach consensus. Short-term actions may be necessary while broader negotiations continue.
For CRIT, stopgap measures could directly influence how water is managed in the near term, affecting river operations and allocation decisions that impact Tribal water access.
According to The Conversation, Colorado River negotiations have stalled due to ongoing disagreements between Upper and Lower Basin states over how to share water shortages. Experts say future progress may depend on compromise and a clearer framework for dividing reductions.
The article explains that differences in water use, legal interpretations, and priorities have made it difficult to reach agreement. However, there is still potential for negotiations to resume and produce a workable solution.
For CRIT, understanding why negotiations stall is important because these discussions shape the policies and agreements that determine how water is shared across the basin, including Tribal water rights.
According to Newsweek, Lake Powell is facing worsening conditions as heat waves and low snowpack reduce expected water levels. Forecasts show that inflows into the reservoir may be lower than anticipated, adding pressure to an already strained system.
Lower water levels could impact hydropower production and reduce the system’s ability to store and release water efficiently. Officials are closely monitoring conditions as the situation develops.
For CRIT, Lake Powell is a key part of the Colorado River system, and declining levels can influence how water is managed downstream, affecting availability and long-term planning.
Sources
By Ariana Romero
CRIT Media Reporter
According to ASU News, recent snow surveys conducted by Arizona State University and the Salt River Project show that much of Arizona’s headwater snowpack has melted within just a few weeks. Warmer temperatures caused snow to melt earlier than expected, reducing the amount of water that can slowly feed rivers over time.
This rapid melt limits how much water reaches streams and reservoirs later in the season, making water supplies less reliable. Snowpack typically acts as a natural storage system, and when it disappears too quickly, more water is lost to evaporation or runoff that cannot be captured.
For CRIT, reduced and fast-melting snowpack directly impacts the Colorado River system, affecting how much water ultimately flows downstream and influencing long-term water availability.
According to Fox 10 Phoenix, Arizona is considering a potential agreement to purchase water from California as Colorado River tensions continue. State officials are exploring alternative ways to secure water supplies as negotiations over river allocations remain uncertain.
The idea reflects growing pressure on Arizona to find additional water sources as shortages become more likely. Any agreement would depend on legal, financial, and logistical factors, but it highlights how states are looking beyond traditional allocations.
For CRIT, interstate water deals could influence how Colorado River water is shared and managed, making it important to monitor how these agreements may affect overall allocation and Tribal water interests.
According to Courthouse News Service, a large agricultural company is seeking to pause a public nuisance lawsuit related to groundwater use in Arizona. The case centers on concerns that excessive groundwater pumping may be harming nearby communities and water supplies.
The lawsuit reflects ongoing tensions over groundwater regulation in Arizona, particularly in areas without strong oversight. Water use by large-scale agriculture continues to be a major issue as demand increases and supplies become more limited.
For CRIT, groundwater disputes are closely tied to the broader conversation about water management and protection, especially as pressure on Colorado River supplies pushes greater reliance on groundwater sources.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Lake Powell is heading toward potentially record-low levels as Colorado River states remain deadlocked in negotiations. Experts warn that declining inflows and ongoing drought conditions are pushing the reservoir closer to critical thresholds.
Low water levels at Lake Powell can impact hydropower generation and reduce the system’s ability to manage water deliveries across the basin. The lack of agreement between states is increasing uncertainty about how the situation will be addressed.
For CRIT, Lake Powell is a key part of the Colorado River system, and declining levels can affect how water is released downstream, influencing water availability and management decisions that impact Tribal communities.
According to CBS News, Denver Water has implemented mandatory restrictions limiting outdoor watering to just two days per week due to ongoing drought conditions. Officials say the restrictions are necessary to conserve water as supplies remain below normal.
Water providers across the West are taking similar steps as drought and low snowpack continue to strain resources. Conservation measures are becoming more common as utilities try to manage limited supplies.
For CRIT, increasing restrictions across the basin show how widespread water shortages have become, reinforcing the importance of careful management and protection of Colorado River water resources.
Sources
Ariana Romero
CRIT Media Reporter
According to the Arizona Capitol Times, cracks are beginning to show in Arizona’s previously unified position on Colorado River negotiations. Disagreements are emerging between state leaders and local communities over how water should be managed and protected as shortages worsen.
Some regions, particularly rural areas, are pushing back against policies they believe prioritize urban growth over local water security. These divisions highlight the increasing pressure Arizona faces as it works to defend its share of Colorado River water.
For CRIT, internal disagreements within Arizona matter because they can influence how the state approaches negotiations and allocation decisions, which ultimately affect Tribal water rights and the broader river system.
According to the Office of the Arizona Governor, Governor Katie Hobbs is expanding Arizona’s efforts to protect its Colorado River water by engaging national business leaders. The goal is to build broader support and strengthen Arizona’s position in ongoing negotiations over future river operations.
State officials are working to highlight the economic importance of Colorado River water and the potential impacts of shortages on industries and communities. This approach reflects how water issues are increasingly tied to economic and political strategy.
For CRIT, these efforts show how states are mobilizing additional influence in negotiations, which can shape how water is allocated and how Tribal interests are considered in future agreements.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, a recent heat wave is accelerating snowmelt across the Colorado River Basin, raising concerns about reduced spring runoff. Experts warn that early melting can lead to less water reaching major reservoirs like Lake Powell and Lake Mead.
The situation is being described as a “blaring alarm” for the river, as warming temperatures continue to impact how water is stored and delivered. Reduced runoff could worsen already declining reservoir levels.
For CRIT, early snowmelt and reduced runoff directly affect how much water flows through the Colorado River system, influencing future water availability and management decisions. (more…)
According to CBS 5 Arizona’s Family, Yuma officials are preparing for possible Colorado River water cuts as negotiations over future river operations continue. Yuma, a major agricultural hub, depends heavily on Colorado River water, and local leaders say reductions could impact farming, jobs, and the regional economy.
As federal and state officials work toward new post-2026 guidelines, communities like Yuma are closely watching how water shortages will be distributed across the basin. The uncertainty reflects ongoing challenges in reaching agreement among the seven basin states.
For CRIT, impacts to Yuma highlight how reductions in Colorado River water can affect agriculture and economies across the region, reinforcing the importance of protecting water rights and ensuring fair allocation decisions.
According to KJZZ, water conservation efforts in Arizona are becoming increasingly expensive, and officials are exploring whether large corporations could help cover some of the costs. Programs aimed at reducing water use, such as paying farmers or industries to conserve water, require significant funding.
State leaders and water managers are looking at partnerships with businesses to support conservation efforts as Colorado River supplies continue to decline. The goal is to find sustainable ways to reduce water use without placing the entire financial burden on taxpayers.
For CRIT, this reflects a broader shift in how water conservation is being funded and managed. As water becomes more limited, decisions about who pays for conservation efforts will play a key role in shaping long-term water policy.
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, nearly $889 million is being invested in water infrastructure projects across the western United States. The funding will support efforts to improve water storage, conservation, and system efficiency as drought conditions continue.
The investment is part of a larger federal effort to strengthen water systems and address long-term shortages in the Colorado River Basin and other regions. Projects may include upgrades to canals, reservoirs, and water delivery systems. (more…)
By Ariana Romero CRIT Media
According to CBS 5 Arizona’s Family, Yuma officials are preparing for possible Colorado River water cuts as negotiations over future river operations continue. Yuma, a major agricultural hub, depends heavily on Colorado River water, and local leaders say reductions could impact farming, jobs, and the regional economy.
As federal and state officials work toward new post-2026 guidelines, communities like Yuma are closely watching how water shortages will be distributed across the basin. The uncertainty reflects ongoing challenges in reaching agreement among the seven basin states.
For CRIT, impacts to Yuma highlight how reductions in Colorado River water can affect agriculture and economies across the region, reinforcing the importance of protecting water rights and ensuring fair allocation decisions.
According to KJZZ, water conservation efforts in Arizona are becoming increasingly expensive, and officials are exploring whether large corporations could help cover some of the costs. Programs aimed at reducing water use, such as paying farmers or industries to conserve water, require significant funding.
State leaders and water managers are looking at partnerships with businesses to support conservation efforts as Colorado River supplies continue to decline. The goal is to find sustainable ways to reduce water use without placing the entire financial burden on taxpayers.
For CRIT, this reflects a broader shift in how water conservation is being funded and managed. As water becomes more limited, decisions about who pays for conservation efforts will play a key role in shaping long-term water policy.
According to the Daily Independent, Governor Katie Hobbs is working to involve national business leaders in Arizona’s efforts to address Colorado River water challenges. The state is seeking support from major industries to help advocate for Arizona’s position in ongoing river negotiations.
The move comes as Arizona faces potential reductions in its Colorado River allocation and increasing pressure to secure long-term water supplies. State officials are expanding their approach by bringing in economic stakeholders to strengthen their position.
For CRIT, this shows how water negotiations are expanding beyond government agencies to include business interests. These broader coalitions could influence how water decisions are made and how resources are prioritized across the basin. (more…)
By Ariana Romero CRIT Media
According to the Arizona Mirror, rural Arizona residents are pushing back against a proposed bill that would allow a hedge fund to transport and sell groundwater from rural areas to cities like Phoenix. Opponents argue the measure could drain local water supplies and remove control from the communities that depend on those resources.
The proposal highlights growing tensions between rural and urban water needs as Arizona faces increasing pressure from Colorado River shortages. As cities look for new water sources, rural communities are raising concerns about long-term sustainability and fairness.
For CRIT, this issue reflects a larger pattern across the Southwest, where water is becoming a highly valuable and contested resource. Decisions about who controls and benefits from water supplies are directly tied to protecting Tribal water rights and ensuring long-term access.
According to Signals AZ, decisions being made about the Colorado River’s future could have significant impacts on Yuma, one of Arizona’s most important agricultural regions. Yuma relies heavily on Colorado River water to support farming and local economies.
As negotiations continue over how to manage the river after 2026, potential reductions in water allocations could affect crop production and economic stability in the region. Officials are closely monitoring how federal plans may shape future water deliveries.
For CRIT, impacts to regions like Yuma highlight how interconnected the Colorado River system is. Changes in water distribution anywhere along the river can affect the overall balance of the system and influence decisions that impact Tribal communities downstream.
According to KJZZ, there is renewed discussion about restarting the dormant desalination plant in Yuma as a way to supplement Colorado River supplies. The plant, which treats water from Mexico, has long been considered a potential tool to help offset water shortages in the region.
Supporters say reviving the plant could help increase available water as Colorado River supplies continue to decline. However, questions remain about cost, environmental impacts, and long-term feasibility.
For CRIT, desalination represents one of several strategies being explored to reduce pressure on the Colorado River. These types of projects could play a role in shaping future water availability across the basin.
According to CBS 5 Arizona’s Family, treated seawater is being considered as a potential solution to help Arizona address deeper Colorado River water cuts. The idea involves desalinating ocean water and transporting it inland to supplement existing supplies. (more…)
The CRIT Museum hosted a hands-on bark skirt construction class on July 16 at Lazy D Park, giving participants an opportunity to learn a traditional skill while connecting with cultural knowledge.
The class was led by traditional craftsman Richard Montague of the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Reservation. Montague learned bark skirt construction and many other traditional skills from his grandparents, who are Quechan, Maricopa, and Mohave.
During two sessions, Montague guided participants through the process of creating a traditional bark skirt, from preparing harvested plant materials to constructing a finished skirt panel. All materials used during the workshop were harvested from the Tribes’ homelands.
Participants learned how to identify cured willow and cottonwood bark, recognize when the plants are ready to be harvested and carefully collect the bark in a way that allows the plants to continue growing. They also sorted and prepared the bark for weaving before learning how to attach it to a cordage belt foundation. (more…)
The Colorado River has always sustained the Colorado River Indian Tribes, and protecting it means understanding CRIT’s history, sovereignty, and senior water rights. This presentation by Lead Water Counsel John Bezdek walks Tribal Members through the timeline of CRIT’s connection to the river from the original establishment of the Reservation in 1865, to major court decisions, federal infrastructure, drought conditions, water shortages, and current efforts to protect CRIT’s future.
The update also explains why CRIT holds the senior-most Tribal water rights in the Colorado River Basin, what current shortage discussions could mean for the Tribe, why CRIT strongly opposes pro-rata reductions, and how Tribal Council and the CRIT Water Team are working to protect CRIT’s water resources for future generations. Tribal Members are encouraged to stay informed, remain vigilant, and continue protecting their connection to the river. Click on the link below to download the presentation.
Deputy Commissioner David Palumbo and Representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation (referred to as Reclamation) met with the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Tribal Council on June 1st, 2026. This meeting was called a Government-to-Government consultation for on-going dialogue specifically regarding the development of the finalized Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS is a federal review of the different options being considered for operating major Colorado River dams and reservoirs after 2026, and the potential impacts of those options. In this meeting, representatives from Reclamation laid out developing plans they are calling Post 2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. In these guidelines, it will determine how the major Colorado River reservoirs, specifically Lake Powell and Lake Mead, are operated after the current rules expire. At the heart of Reclamation’s visit was the opportunity not only to explain its plans for the Colorado River and the Final EIS, but also to address CRIT’s major concerns with the Draft EIS. Most notably, the Draft EIS discusses the possibility of allocating shortages among all water users without regard to priority date. Priority date is the legal order that determines which water rights are senior and must be lawfully protected before junior users, to which CRIT has senior priority. This approach is known as pro rata allocation of shortages, and if applied, it will directly violate the Tribe’s senior water rights.
Reclamation’s presentation did not come with good news. According to its report, continued drought, climate variability, and historically low reservoir levels have created serious challenges for Colorado River operations. Representatives also explained that the Upper and Lower Basin states had not reached consensus on a Basin-wide proposal at the time of the meeting, making the federal decision-making process especially important. They discussed what they are calling a Preliminary Preferred Alternative: a 10-year framework that would establish broad operational principles and sideboards while allowing specific operational guidelines to be updated every two years. This method would provide flexibility rather than locking the Basin into a single fixed set of rules for the entire decade.
This means that Reclamation will decide operations for 2027–2028 first, then revisit operations for 2029–2030, and continue in two-year cycles. They said this might help tackle things in a real-time manner and adjust if required.
In response, CRIT Tribal Council members emphasized that the present crisis cannot be separated from the federal government’s long-standing obligations to the Tribe, including the need to address aging irrigation infrastructure and support CRIT’s ability to fully use and store its water. Council members expressed that, had those commitments been fulfilled earlier, CRIT and the Basin may be facing a very different situation today. Additionally, the conversation was centered mostly around pro rata, with all of Tribal Council members doubling down on making Reclamation commit to removing pro rata language in the final EIS. (more…)
Andrea Travnicek, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science, recently toured the Colorado River Indian Reservation with Chairwoman Amelia Flores, ‘Amat Kuhwely Farms Manager Joshua Moore, Deputy Attorney General Travis Nez, Lead Water Attorney John Bezdek, Water Resources Director Dillon Esquerra, and Fish & Game Wildlife Manager Alexander Kalinowski. The goal of the visit was for Travnicek to understand in real time about the Tribe’s water, agricultural capabilities, and infrastructure inefficiencies.
Travnicek was accompanied by members of her staff and representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation, an agency within her oversight portfolio. During the visit, Tribal representatives took her to several locations across the reservation to provide a firsthand look at CRIT enterprises, agricultural operations, and the deteriorating irrigation infrastructure affecting the vast farmland throughout the valley.
The tour began at Aha Quin Resort, a Tribally owned and operated recreational destination located on CRIT lands along the California side of the Colorado River.
Travnicek then visited a portion of the valley’s irrigation system, a critical stop because it is where excess water flows through the canals before draining back into the Colorado River. The deteriorating infrastructure limits CRIT’s ability to retain and reuse that water within the irrigation system. Once the water returns to the river, it becomes available to downstream junior users, some of whom have derived substantial economic benefit from water over which CRIT holds a far more senior legal claim, with an earliest priority date of March 3, 1865. The location has long been used to demonstrate the serious condition of the aging irrigation system. By visiting the site, Travnicek was able to observe the problems firsthand and hear Dillon Esquerra and Joshua Moore. explain how the failing infrastructure affects the Tribe’s ability to conserve and efficiently use its water.
The tour continued at ‘Amat Kuhwely Farms, where Travnicek met with Farm Manager Joshua Moore and local farmers John Nelson and tribal member Ciesto Leivas, Jr.. The farmers discussed the challenges of maintaining agricultural operations while relying on aging and unreliable infrastructure throughout the valley. They also discussed the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) inoperable ability to maintain its own infrastructure and how often (if not daily) these farmers need to do the work of the BIA in order to maintain their crops and yield successful results.
Travnicek listened to their concerns and expressed her willingness to elevate these issues with BIA leaders in DC. She relayed how frustrating it must be for them, and for CRIT overall to not see any updates. (more…)
