October 19, 2026 4:47 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
October 19, 2026 4:47 pm
CRIT Nation, Parker, AZ
Arizona opened August with strong pushback to the federal government’s new framework for managing the Colorado River after 2026.
The Bureau of Reclamation’s Final Environmental Impact Statement lays out a 10-year framework for future operations at Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The current operating rules expire after 2026, and the seven Basin states have not reached a long-term agreement on how future shortages should be shared.
Under the federal framework, Arizona, California, and Nevada could face mandatory reductions in Colorado River use. The Department of the Interior said the plan allows Lower Basin shortages of up to 3 million acre-feet, depending on reservoir conditions. The Upper Basin states — Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico — would not face mandatory reductions for now.
Arizona officials and water leaders criticized that approach, saying it places too much of the burden on the Lower Basin and especially on Arizona. Fox 10 reported that the Central Arizona Project, which delivers Colorado River water to central and southern Arizona, raised concerns that the federal framework could lead to deeper cuts for the state. CAP serves cities, farms, and Tribal communities through its 336-mile canal system.
Several Arizona leaders said the state has already conserved significant amounts of Colorado River water and should not be forced to carry the largest share of future reductions. KNAU reported that Arizona officials called on Upper Basin states to do more to share the burden, while Upper Basin officials argued that drought and reduced snowpack already limit the amount of water available to them.
Central Arizona Project President Terry Goddard also criticized the federal plan. KTAR reported that Goddard said the plan requires Lower Basin states to cut water use while Upper Basin states face no mandatory reductions. CAP said it expects the final operating guidelines for 2027 and 2028 to better reflect the Lower Basin proposal, which would conserve more than 3.2 million acre-feet of water through 2028.
The issue is especially important for Arizona because cuts to Colorado River water would not affect every community the same way. ABC15 reported that reductions would hit Valley cities unevenly because Central Arizona Project water is delivered under a priority system. Some communities have stronger priority, stored water, other supplies, or Tribal water leases that may help reduce the impact. Others could be more exposed.
Phoenix said it is prepared for possible Colorado River reductions because of conservation, underground storage, diverse supplies, and long-term infrastructure planning. The city has also joined regional water-sharing efforts meant to help Arizona communities manage shortages.
Infrastructure is becoming a larger part of the state’s water planning. KJZZ reported that Salt River Project opened the Gilbert Road Pipeline, a $25 million project that will help Valley cities access stored groundwater during dry times. The pipeline connects water stored near the Granite Reef Underground Storage Project to the Arizona Canal, making it easier for cities to recover water they banked for shortage conditions.
The SRP project also involved the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. KJZZ reported that the pipeline crosses part of the community near Mesa, and President Martin Harvier spoke at the ribbon-cutting, connecting the project to the long history of canal systems in the Valley.
Lake Powell remains one of the biggest concerns. KTAR reported that the reservoir could lose the ability to generate hydropower as early as March 2027 if water levels continue to fall. Glen Canyon Dam provides power for millions of people across the Southwest, and low reservoir levels can also affect dam infrastructure, releases through the Grand Canyon, and downstream operations. (more…)
The final days of July brought the clearest picture yet of how the federal government may manage the Colorado River after 2026.
The Bureau of Reclamation released its Final Environmental Impact Statement for future operations at Lake Powell and Lake Mead, setting up a 10-year framework for managing the river through 2036. The current operating rules expire after 2026, and the Basin states have not reached a long-term agreement on how future shortages should be shared.
The federal framework does not settle every question. Instead, it gives Reclamation room to adjust operations over shorter periods as river conditions change. The Department of the Interior said the preferred alternative allows for annual Lake Powell releases between 5 million and 12 million acre-feet, Lower Basin shortages of up to 3 million acre-feet, and new options to store conserved water in Lake Powell and Lake Mead for future use.
For Arizona, the proposal carries serious consequences. The Associated Press reported that Arizona, California, and Nevada would share reductions under the federal plan, while the Upper Basin states would not face mandatory cuts for now. The Lower Basin could be required to reduce use by up to 3 million acre-feet annually through 2036, depending on river conditions.
Arizona officials pushed back quickly. Gov. Katie Hobbs called parts of the federal framework unacceptable, and the Arizona Department of Water Resources said reductions of up to 3 million acre-feet per year, in priority, would harm Arizona water users and the state economy. ADWR said it wants the final Record of Decision and operating guidelines to follow the May 1 Lower Basin Proposal, which includes shared reductions among Arizona, California, and Nevada of 1.25 million acre-feet each year, plus 700,000 acre-feet of system conservation water.
Central Arizona Project also responded to the FEIS, saying future rules must recognize Arizona’s existing rights and the realities of how Colorado River water is used in the state. CAP delivers Colorado River water to central and southern Arizona, including cities, agriculture, and tribal users. Any major reduction to CAP supplies would affect communities differently depending on their water priority, stored supplies, and access to other sources.
Arizona communities were already preparing before the FEIS was released. KJZZ reported that Salt River Project opened the Gilbert Road Pipeline, a $25 million project that will help Valley cities access stored groundwater during dry times. The pipeline connects underground storage near the Granite Reef Underground Storage Project to the Arizona Canal, making it easier for cities to recover water they stored for shortage conditions.
That project also involved the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. KJZZ reported that the pipeline crosses a portion of the community near Mesa, and President Martin Harvier spoke at the ribbon-cutting, connecting the project to the long history of canal systems in the Valley.
Stored water and infrastructure are becoming more important as cities look for backup supplies. City of Phoenix officials said the city is prepared for potential Colorado River cuts because of its diverse water portfolio, conservation work, underground storage, and investments in infrastructure. Other Arizona cities are also turning to conservation, including turf conversion programs and water-saving rebates.
In Queen Creek, local reporting said turf conversions are saving water and money. Fox 10 reported that Gilbert residents are seeing higher water rates, showing how water planning costs are reaching household budgets. KTAR reported that Kearny expects its current water supply to last through this year, but 2027 remains uncertain.
Drought conditions also continued across Arizona. Payson Roundup reported that Arizona has been designated a drought disaster area, while other local reports showed concern in rural communities that rely on limited supplies or groundwater. These conditions show how water shortages are not only a Colorado River issue. They also affect small towns, farms, local utilities, and private well users.
Lake Powell remained one of the most urgent concerns. KTAR reported that Lake Powell could lose the ability to generate hydropower by early 2027 if water levels continue to fall. CBS 5 Arizona’s Family also reported that the Colorado River crisis threatens both water supply and hydropower for millions of people. Low reservoir levels affect more than storage. They can affect dam operations, electricity generation, water deliveries, and the ability to manage future dry years.
Scientists are also working to better understand how much water is being lost from the system. Colorado Public Radio and KUNR reported that researchers are expanding evaporation monitoring across the Colorado River Basin. The work is meant to give water managers better information about how much water is lost from reservoirs and other parts of the system, an issue that becomes more important as Lake Mead and Lake Powell remain low.
The pressure is being felt outside Arizona as well. Nevada Independent reported that Nevada could lose a significant share of its Colorado River water under the federal framework, while Las Vegas-area reporting focused on conservation and what continued cuts could mean for Southern Nevada. California outlets reported that future Colorado River reductions could affect Southern California water planning, including agencies that depend on Colorado River supplies.
Public concern is also rising. A Walton Family Foundation poll found that residents across all seven Basin states view shrinking Colorado River supplies as a priority. KJZZ reported that Arizonans are worried about water and want elected officials to respond. Those findings reflect what many local water stories showed throughout July: the Colorado River issue is no longer limited to technical negotiations. It is showing up in city budgets, water rates, infrastructure projects, agriculture, energy, and household concerns.
By the end of July, the federal FEIS became the main turning point. It did not end the negotiations, but it set the stage for the next federal decision. Reclamation will still issue a Record of Decision and operating guidelines, which will provide more detail on how the framework will be used. (more…)
The Bureau of Reclamation has released its Final Environmental Impact Statement for future Colorado River operations, a major step toward deciding how Lake Powell and Lake Mead will be managed after 2026.
The document comes as the current river rules near expiration. The 2007 Interim Guidelines, the 2019 Drought Contingency Plans, and several related agreements are set to expire after the 2026 operating year. Those rules helped guide shortages and coordinated operations between Lake Powell and Lake Mead, but Reclamation said they have not been strong enough to stop the continued decline of the river’s two largest reservoirs.
Instead of adopting one fixed long-term operating plan, Reclamation’s preferred alternative creates a 10-year adaptive framework for operations from 2027 through 2036. Under that framework, operating guidelines could be issued in shorter periods, likely every two years, unless the Basin states reach a longer consensus agreement.
That approach gives the federal government more flexibility as river conditions change. It also shows that the seven Basin states have not yet reached a long-term agreement on how future shortages should be shared.
The Department of the Interior said the framework is meant to guide operations at Lake Powell and Lake Mead while leaving room for future agreements among the Basin states. The preferred alternative includes “sideboards,” or operating limits, that set the range of actions federal officials could use.
Those sideboards include annual releases from Lake Powell between 5 million and 12 million acre-feet, Lower Basin shortages of up to 3 million acre-feet, and new options to store conserved water in Lake Powell and Lake Mead for future use. The framework also allows voluntary Upper Basin conservation of up to 200,000 acre-feet, depending on hydrologic conditions.
Lake Powell and Lake Mead remain central to the federal planning process. Lake Powell helps regulate releases from the Upper Basin through Glen Canyon Dam, while Lake Mead supports Lower Basin deliveries to Arizona, California, and Nevada through Hoover Dam. When either reservoir drops too low, the risk is not only less stored water. Low levels can also affect hydropower, dam operations, deliveries, and the ability to respond to future dry years.
Reclamation’s Executive Summary says the Colorado River supports about 40 million people, nearly 5.5 million acres of agricultural land, ecological resources, hydropower, cultural resources, and communities across seven states and Mexico. It also identifies 30 federally recognized Tribes in the Basin, including the Colorado River Indian Tribes.
The Final EIS directly addresses Tribal concerns. Reclamation said Basin Tribes have expressed that the current approach to Colorado River management does not fully address their rights, needs, and interests. The document says future guidelines should provide more flexibility and predictability for Basin Tribes to benefit from their water rights and participate in voluntary conservation programs.
That language is important because it places Tribal Nations inside the future operating framework, not outside of it. For CRIT, that matters because the Tribe holds senior Colorado River rights and has agricultural, cultural, and governmental interests tied directly to the river.
The Arizona Department of Water Resources released a statement after the FEIS was published. ADWR said Arizona, California, and Nevada submitted a Lower Basin proposal to help stabilize Lake Powell and Lake Mead with more than 3 million acre-feet of water savings over two years. ADWR said the FEIS includes analysis that could allow many core parts of that proposal to move forward.
ADWR also raised concerns. The agency objected to parts of the federal framework that could allow Lower Basin reductions of up to 3 million acre-feet per year, in priority. ADWR said reductions at that level would harm Arizona water users and the state economy. The agency also said the framework does not include Upper Basin reductions or enough use of water stored in reservoirs above Lake Powell.
ADWR said it wants the forthcoming Record of Decision and operating guidelines to follow the May 1 Lower Basin Proposal. That plan includes shared reductions among Arizona, California, and Nevada of 1.25 million acre-feet each year, plus an additional 700,000 acre-feet of system conservation water.
The next major step will be the federal Record of Decision and operating guidelines. Those documents are expected to provide more detail on how operations will be handled through 2028 and how the broader framework will guide decisions through 2036.
For CRIT, the FEIS is significant because future operations at Lake Powell and Lake Mead shape the larger river system where the Tribe’s senior rights are exercised. CRIT is not in the same legal position as many junior-priority users, but federal rules on reservoir operations, conservation programs, shortage planning, and stored water can still influence Basin-wide policy. (more…)
July 16 reporting focused on what future Colorado River rules may need to account for: water users, reservoir levels, river health, and the cost of keeping the system operating.
KJZZ reported that environmental advocates want future Colorado River rules to leave some water for the river itself. The article focused on the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam, where river conditions are shaped by dam operations, reservoir levels, and releases from Lake Powell. Advocates told KJZZ that a healthier river system can also support the water supply system that cities, farms, and ecosystems depend on.
Lake Mead also remained under pressure. Water Online reported that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is partnering with the federal government to leave water in Lake Mead. The agreement is meant to help slow the reservoir’s decline while the Basin states continue working on new river rules.
Several Nevada outlets reported that Lake Mead is expected to keep dropping. KLAS reported that the reservoir could fall nearly 33 feet by June 2028, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that forecasters expect Lake Mead to continue setting record lows over the next two years. KVVU also reported that Lake Mead is nearing its all-time low as Boulder City continues to raise concerns about a proposed data center and its power demands.
Lake Powell remained a major concern as well. St. George News reported that the reservoir reached a critical threshold amid the ongoing Colorado River crisis. Low levels at Lake Powell affect hydropower generation, releases through Glen Canyon Dam, and the overall operation of the river system.
Weather added another layer of uncertainty. CAP Know Your Water News reported that a possible “Super El Niño” could bring wetter conditions to parts of the Southwest, but it does not guarantee relief for the Colorado River Basin. CAP reported that snowpack, runoff, and conditions in the Upper Basin will still determine how much water reaches Lake Powell and Lake Mead.
In the Upper Basin, Colorado water officials announced a new state-run conservation program. Aspen Journalism reported that the program will use federal funding to pay water users to voluntarily reduce use in 2027 and 2028. The program is expected to include criteria meant to avoid negative community impacts, encourage participation across sectors, and support drought resiliency. (more…)
July reporting continued to focus on how Arizona and the wider Colorado River Basin are preparing for reduced water supplies, with attention on Tribal water leadership, advanced water purification, and low reservoir levels.
Lake Powell Chronicle reported on the growing role of Tribal Nations in Arizona water policy. The article focused on how Tribal water rights, settlements, and planning are becoming more central as the state and federal government respond to long-term shortages. The reporting also reflects a broader shift across the Basin, where Tribal Nations are not only water rights holders but key governments in future river decisions.
Arizona water agencies are also looking at new supply options. AMWUA reported on advanced water purification, a process that treats recycled water to drinking-water standards. The technology is receiving more attention as cities look for options beyond traditional surface water, groundwater, and stored credits.
At the same time, Lake Powell remains under serious pressure. ABC News reported that the reservoir is nearing “dead power pool,” the elevation where water levels become too low for Glen Canyon Dam to generate hydropower. Newsweek also reported on concerns about Lake Powell and Lake Mead, including ideas being discussed by scientists and water experts as both reservoirs remain low.
John Fleck at Inkstain described the reservoir conditions as a grim Colorado River milestone. The continued decline of Lake Powell and Lake Mead shows how storage, hydropower, and future water deliveries are tied together. When the reservoirs fall, the issue is not only how much water remains but how the system can continue operating.
California water issues also remained part of the regional picture. Smart Water Magazine reported that California voters rank water among their top priorities for the next governor. While California’s water system is different from Arizona’s, the state remains part of Colorado River negotiations and shares in decisions over future Lower Basin reductions.
The July reports show several parts of the water discussion moving at once. Tribal Nations are gaining more recognition in water policy. Cities are exploring advanced purification. Lake Powell and Lake Mead remain low. States are still facing pressure to plan for a river system that can no longer support all demands in the same way.
What does this mean for CRIT?
For CRIT, the reporting on Tribal water power is directly relevant. It shows that Tribal Nations are becoming more visible in statewide and Basin-wide water decisions, especially as shortages force governments to revisit how water is managed.
CRIT’s senior Colorado River rights are a major part of that larger water policy landscape. As Arizona cities look at reuse, purification, and future water supplies, Tribal rights and Tribal governments remain central to any complete discussion about the river’s future.
The Lake Powell reporting also matters because reservoir levels affect federal operations, hydropower, and shortage planning across the Basin. CRIT’s Water Code and Water Resiliency Act help guide local water management as those conditions change, while the Personhood Resolution reflects the Tribe’s cultural and environmental connection to the Colorado River. (more…)
July reporting continued to focus on how Arizona and the wider Colorado River Basin are preparing for reduced water supplies, with attention on Tribal water leadership, advanced water purification, and low reservoir levels.
Lake Powell Chronicle reported on the growing role of Tribal Nations in Arizona water policy. The article focused on how Tribal water rights, settlements, and planning are becoming more central as the state and federal government respond to long-term shortages. The reporting also reflects a broader shift across the Basin, where Tribal Nations are not only water rights holders but key governments in future river decisions.
Arizona water agencies are also looking at new supply options. AMWUA reported on advanced water purification, a process that treats recycled water to drinking-water standards. The technology is receiving more attention as cities look for options beyond traditional surface water, groundwater, and stored credits.
At the same time, Lake Powell remains under serious pressure. ABC News reported that the reservoir is nearing “dead power pool,” the elevation where water levels become too low for Glen Canyon Dam to generate hydropower. Newsweek also reported on concerns about Lake Powell and Lake Mead, including ideas being discussed by scientists and water experts as both reservoirs remain low.
John Fleck at Inkstain described the reservoir conditions as a grim Colorado River milestone. The continued decline of Lake Powell and Lake Mead shows how storage, hydropower, and future water deliveries are tied together. When the reservoirs fall, the issue is not only how much water remains but how the system can continue operating.
California water issues also remained part of the regional picture. Smart Water Magazine reported that California voters rank water among their top priorities for the next governor. While California’s water system is different from Arizona’s, the state remains part of Colorado River negotiations and shares in decisions over future Lower Basin reductions.
The July reports show several parts of the water discussion moving at once. Tribal Nations are gaining more recognition in water policy. Cities are exploring advanced purification. Lake Powell and Lake Mead remain low. States are still facing pressure to plan for a river system that can no longer support all demands in the same way.
What does this mean for CRIT?
For CRIT, the reporting on Tribal water power is directly relevant. It shows that Tribal Nations are becoming more visible in statewide and Basin-wide water decisions, especially as shortages force governments to revisit how water is managed. (more…)
The Colorado River Indian Tribes and the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD) have reached an agreement to deliver 9,009 acre-feet of CRIT Intentionally Created Surplus (ICS) water to the CAWCD. This represents the last remaining water CRIT made available as part of the Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) that was agreed to back in 2019.
The ICS was previously conserved between 2020 and 2022, when in response to requests from the federal government, CRIT conserved water to help stabilize Lake Mead. CRIT conserved approximately 160,000 acre-feet and was compensated $38 million for 150,000 acre-feet of conservation (the average value of that water was approximately $254 per acre-foot). There was additional conserved water of approximately 10,009 acre-feet for which CRIT was never compensated. It was converted into ICS so it would not be lost and is still behind Hoover Dam in Lake Mead.
Under the agreement, the CAWCD will compensate CRIT at $590 per acre-foot, for a total of $5.3 million, to be executed in two payments.
The CAWCD is the public agency that operates and maintains the physical infrastructure of the Central Arizona Project (CAP).
The ICS Agreements include requirements to account for system and evaporation losses, accounting, and use. By entering into this agreement now, CRIT will avoid future reductions in its ICS to account for evaporation and system losses; CRIT’s ICS water has already been allocated a 10% reduction, which is why the account balance is now 9009 acre-feet. In addition to system losses and evaporation, there are also upcoming limitations that restrict ICS recovery when Lake Mead falls to certain elevations. In agreeing to allow CAWCD to recover CRIT’s ICS, Tribal Council is being proactive in gaining compensation for this remaining water made available in the DCP prior to this water being devalued or otherwise lost. (more…)
The Colorado River Indian Tribes’ new Head Start School is moving closer to opening, with the sewer system expected to be ready for final inspection during the week of September 21, 2026. Once final approvals are received, the project team will be able to move toward opening the new school.
The delay has been tied primarily to operation and capacity issues at the Joint Venture Sewer treatment facility. Because of those issues, the project team had to redesign the school’s sewer system so it would meet Joint Venture Sewer requirements before the facility could become operational.
That redesign required additional engineering work for a holding tank and lift station system. The system will temporarily store wastewater and then release it into the Joint Venture Sewer system in a controlled, timed discharge during non-peak hours. A contractor also had to be brought on to complete the additional installation and related work.
The project team has continued working closely with Joint Venture Sewer, CRIT Utilities, CRIT Building & Safety, the engineering team, and contractors to finish the required work and secure final approval.
When it opens, the new facility will include 10 classrooms, a large multi-purpose room with capacity for 500 people, a playground, a bus barn, and room for future expansion.
CRIT received a $13.8 million federal grant to help fund the project. CRIT is contributing another $7.2 million, bringing the total investment to nearly $20.8 million.
CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores said, “This represents a vital investment in our children. The benefits of this facility will be felt for generations as we seek to provide our children with the best possible head start as they prepare for school, life, and the opportunities that await. We want to thank everyone for their patience during this time. This is a momentous step forward in the right direction for the entire community, and we thank everyone who helped get us this far.”
Following a series of historic ceremonies on Friday, September 4, 2026, the University of Arizona has permanently integrated the four native languages of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) into its campus landscape. Organized by the university’s Office of Native American Advancement & Tribal Engagement (NAATE) in partnership with individual academic colleges, the Native Languages Campus Sign Initiative unveiled a progression of permanent building signs throughout the day to celebrate the Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi, and Navajo languages.
Members of the CRIT Tribal Council attended the sign ceremonies, including Treasurer Anisa Patch, Secretary Josephine Tahbo, Councilmember Vanessa Welch, and Councilmember Raeanne Patch.
The continuous initiative aims to elevate the visibility, recognition, and enduring presence of Indigenous communities within academic spaces. Levi Esquerra, Special Advisor for NAATE, explained that the permanent structural markers grew out of a linguistics department tradition where temporary language signs were posted for just one day each February to observe International Mother Language Day. “They used to put up tarps of native languages throughout campus at six o’clock in the morning, take them down by six, and they wanted permanent signage,” Esquerra said. “We started an initiative of reaching out to tribes and having them add language to our buildings… What makes CRIT so unique is, you know, CRIT is made up of four distinct tribes. And so we felt it was only correct to honor each of those tribes that make up the CRIT nation.”
The day-long celebration began at 9:00 AM at the Emil W. Haury Anthropology Building, home to the School of Anthropology. The Chemehuevi language inscription “Puha” was added to the building’s sign, translating to the “Power of learning about the people.” School of Anthropology Director Rob Schon noted that the naming honors and renews structural ties established in 1954 when Emil Haury preserved Chemehuevi baskets for the Arizona State Museum. Reflecting on the word chosen for the sign, Schon remarked, “Phua is a sacred term… As interpreted here, Puha means power of learning about the people. There is no greater calling for an anthropologist to aspire to.” CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores highlighted the deep perseverance required to bring the project to fruition, stating, “When I first heard of the university asking the tribes in Arizona to name buildings, I approached him and I said, ‘Why not CRIT? Why not CRIT?’ … It’s taken this long. So thank you, my dear friend, for making this happen… Most tribes have only one, but CRIT, you have four.”
At 10:30 AM, the procession moved to the Environment and Natural Resources 2 (ENR2) Building to honor the CRIT Navajo language with the phrase “Nihimá Nahasdzáán baa’áhwíílyą́,” meaning “We are protecting Mother Earth.” During the ceremony, CRIT Navajo representative Harlietta Mitchell shared her family’s history of post-World War II relocation to the western Arizona desert, emphasizing that true ecological resilience requires a marriage of academic science and ancestral wisdom. “I hope this building will be more than a place where people study environmental science,” Mitchell said. “May it be a place where indigenous knowledge and scientific knowledge meet with respect.” Chairwoman Flores added, “This signage marks a permanent and visible commitment to honoring the first people of the land. When you see the words… they are a powerful, powerful declaration that indigenous knowledge and culture belongs in academia.” Navajo artist Nicole Pete also presented the history of the official CRIT Tribal Seal, which was designed by her grandfather, John Scott Sr., in 1966.
The afternoon continued at 1:00 PM at the Forbes Building, the home of the College of Agriculture, Life, and Environmental Sciences (CALES) and the Cooperative Extension. Honoring the CRIT Hopi language, the building’s new sign reads “Tutskwat, Sinmuy, pu’ Natwanit Kyaptsilalwa,” which translates to “Honoring the land, the people and the Harvest.” Professor Sheilah Nicholas detailed the deep, remote history inherent in the chosen Hopi vocabulary. “Means land, but the nuances of the Hopi perspective of land inherent in the word changes,” Nicholas explained. “…encompasses the understanding of land as place and a specific place where groups of people coalesced and became a distinct people…” (more…)
Written by CRIT Media Reporter Ariana Romero
“This river is everything to so many people. And yet so many of us treat it as if it’s nothing.”
Those words from ultradistance runner and water advocate Mina Guli carry added weight as the Colorado River faces more than two decades of drought, declining reservoir levels, and growing uncertainty over how the river will be managed in the years ahead.
For the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the future of the river is not a distant issue. CRIT lives along its banks, holds senior Colorado River water rights, and continues to play an active role in conversations surrounding conservation, management, and the river’s future.
Those conditions gave added significance to Guli’s 2,000-mile “Keep the River Running” journey as it reached the Colorado River Indian Reservation.
Guli is running approximately 2,000 miles in 100 days along the Colorado River as part of her “Keep the River Running” campaign. Her journey follows the river through communities that depend on it, with a focus on raising awareness, listening to local voices, and encouraging cooperation around the river’s future.
Her CRIT visit began on the California side of the Reservation, where Councilman Tommy Drennan, Councilwoman Raeanne Patch, and Councilwoman Tracey Quillen greeted and welcomed her before the run.
From there, members of the Mohave Runners, Adrian Pulido, Nolan Taliman, Irving Sharp, Elan Drennan-Webb, Joseph “Joe” Deleon, Aniah “AB” Booth, Mickey Anderson Jr., Joshua Mike, Oslette Johnson, and Chance Fisher joined Guli and ran alongside her through scorching desert heat. Together, they crossed the Colorado River from the California side into Arizona and continued through the community to the Tribal Council Chambers on Mohave Road.
The Mohave Runners brought a strong local presence to the event. Their participation reflected more than physical endurance. They were running beside a river that has sustained their community for generations, showing strength and determination while taking part in a larger effort focused on the future of the Colorado.
Guli said running alongside local people gave her a deeper understanding of the communities tied to the river.
“These are people who have spent their lives here and have so much to share and so much knowledge,” she said.
After the run, Guli, Tribal Council, and community members gathered inside the Tribal Council Chambers. Vice Chairman Dwight Lomayesva, Secretary Josephine Tahbo, Treasurer Anisa Patch, Councilwomen Tracey Quillen, Vanessa Welch, and Raeanne Patch, and Councilman Tommy Drennan were among those in attendance.
The Tribal Council welcomed Guli, presented her with a gift, and thanked her for bringing attention to the Colorado River and the people whose lives are connected to it.
During the gathering and her interview with CRIT Media, one message continued to surface: the importance of working together.
Guli spoke about the many challenges facing the river, including fragmentation among governments, communities, industries, and organizations. She said long-term solutions will require people to look beyond individual interests and focus on a shared future.
“Together doesn’t mean that the river is yours or mine,” Guli said. “It means that it’s ours.”
She also described what she called the “power of together,” saying the future of the river will depend on people being willing to listen to one another, include different perspectives, and work across boundaries.
For Guli, that includes Tribal communities whose relationship with the river goes back generations.
She said being at CRIT gave her the opportunity to listen directly to people who have lived with and understood the Colorado River “since time immemorial.” She also pointed to CRIT’s work involving legal personhood as an example of thinking about the river as more than simply a resource.
“The way to hear them is to be here,” she said. (more…)
