July 28, 2026 3:29 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
July 28, 2026 3:29 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
According to the Colorado Sun, advocates working to protect the Colorado River are exploring multiple strategies, including the concept of granting the river legal “personhood.” This approach would give the river legal rights, similar to a person, allowing it to be represented in court and better protected from overuse. Supporters believe this could strengthen environmental protections, while critics question how it would work within existing water law frameworks. For CRIT, the idea of personhood is especially relevant as it connects to broader discussions about sovereignty, stewardship, and long-term protection of the Colorado River.
Source: https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/06/colorado-river-advocacy-threats-tools-personhood/
According to KJZZ, a new report suggests the United States and Mexico may need to renegotiate how they share Colorado River water as drought conditions worsen. The current agreement, rooted in the 1944 treaty, may no longer reflect the reality of reduced river flows, prompting calls for more flexible and updated water-sharing strategies. Experts argue that future agreements must account for climate change and declining water supplies to avoid further strain on the system.
Source: https://www.kjzz.org/business/2026-04-06/u-s-mexico-water-sharing-should-change-under-a-dry-colorado-river-new-report-argues
According to KTAR News, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum emphasized that all Colorado River Basin states will need to make sacrifices as negotiations continue over future water management. He noted that reaching a fair agreement will require shared responsibility, especially as water supplies continue to decline. The statement comes as federal officials move closer to making decisions if states cannot reach consensus on their own. For CRIT, federal involvement and shared sacrifice discussions are critical because they will shape how water cuts are distributed and how Tribal water rights are respected moving forward.
Source: https://ktar.com/arizona-water-news/colorado-river-water-burgum/5844418/
According to Arizona PBS Horizon, Arizona has hired a law firm to prepare for potential legal battles over Colorado River water usage. State officials are anticipating possible litigation as negotiations between basin states continue to stall and tensions rise over how water cuts should be handled. This move signals that states are preparing for court involvement if agreements cannot be reached through negotiation.
Source: https://azpbs.org/horizon/2026/04/arizona-hires-law-firm-amid-colorado-river-water-usage-battle/
According to KJZZ, Colorado River stakeholders have submitted thousands of public comments on the federal government’s proposed post-2026 water management plan. The feedback reflects widespread concern and competing priorities from states, water agencies, and Tribal Nations about how future shortages should be handled.
The volume of responses shows how high the stakes are as federal officials work to finalize new operating guidelines. Many groups are pushing for fair allocation, long-term sustainability, and stronger consideration of Tribal water rights.
For CRIT, this process is critical because these federal guidelines will directly shape how Colorado River water is managed and distributed, impacting Tribal access and long-term water security.
According to KTAR News, Arizona’s first wastewater-to-drinking-water facility has reached the halfway point in construction, marking a major step toward expanding alternative water supplies. The project is designed to recycle wastewater into potable water to help address long-term shortages.
Officials say advanced treatment technology will allow communities to reuse water safely, reducing reliance on the Colorado River. As water scarcity increases, more cities are turning to reuse systems as part of their strategy.
For CRIT, investments in water reuse highlight how states are adapting to reduced Colorado River supplies, which could influence how water is allocated and managed across the basin.
According to KJZZ, Phoenix leaders are preparing to introduce recycled wastewater into the city’s drinking water system as drought conditions worsen. Officials say the move is necessary to ensure long-term water reliability as traditional sources become less dependable.
The plan reflects a growing shift toward water recycling across the Southwest, where communities are being forced to diversify supplies. Public acceptance and infrastructure development will play key roles in its success.
For CRIT, this signals how urban areas are preparing for long-term shortages, which can influence demand and decision-making around Colorado River water use.
According to NBC Bay Area, California’s snowpack has dropped to near-historic lows following a dry winter, reducing the amount of water expected to flow into rivers and reservoirs. Snowpack is a critical source of water for the Colorado River system and the broader West.
Low snowpack means less runoff during the spring and summer, which can worsen reservoir levels and increase the likelihood of shortages. Experts warn that these conditions are becoming more common. (more…)
According to the Arizona Capitol Times, city officials across Arizona are warning that a proposed tax freeze could put future water infrastructure projects at risk. Local leaders say limiting revenue could reduce their ability to fund essential projects like water treatment, storage, and delivery systems.
As Arizona faces increasing pressure from Colorado River shortages, investment in infrastructure is becoming more critical. Officials argue that without reliable funding, communities may struggle to prepare for long-term water challenges.
For CRIT, water infrastructure funding is directly tied to how water is managed and delivered. Decisions that limit investment could impact the reliability and sustainability of water systems across the region.
According to AZPM News, ongoing Colorado River negotiations remain stalled, raising concerns about potential cuts to the Central Arizona Project (CAP). CAP supplies Colorado River water to central and southern Arizona, and reductions could affect cities, agriculture, and economic development.
With no agreement in place, federal intervention is becoming more likely as officials work to establish post-2026 operating rules. The uncertainty continues to create concern across Arizona as water users prepare for possible shortages.
For CRIT, CAP reductions reflect broader challenges in how Colorado River water is allocated, making these negotiations critical for understanding future impacts to Tribal water rights and regional water access.
According to the Arizona Republic, Tribal leaders are calling for greater input and influence in federal drought planning for the Colorado River. Tribes argue that as sovereign nations with significant water rights, they must have a stronger role in shaping decisions about how water shortages are managed.
The push comes as federal agencies work to develop new guidelines for the river, with Tribal Nations seeking a more active seat at the table. Leaders emphasize that their rights and interests must be fully considered in future plans.
For CRIT, this is especially important because it highlights the need for Tribal representation in decisions that directly affect water rights, allocation, and long-term management of the Colorado River.
According to the Lake Havasu News Herald, Arizona is approaching a critical moment in its water future as Colorado River supplies continue to decline and demand increases. Officials warn that the state must prepare for long-term shortages and make difficult decisions about water use.
The report highlights growing concern about how Arizona will balance population growth, agriculture, and limited water resources. Planning efforts are becoming more urgent as conditions worsen across the basin. (more…)
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…)
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.”
