Arizona’s water coverage centered on a practical question: if the Colorado River keeps shrinking, how much backup water is actually available, and who can use it?
KJZZ reported that Phoenix-area cities are asking for clearer answers about Colorado River water stored underground by the Arizona Water Banking Authority. The Water Bank was created in 1996 to store excess Colorado River water underground for use during a shortage. Cities that rely on the Central Arizona Project say they need to know how much of that stored water they can access, when it would be available, and how it would be recovered.
The issue is becoming more urgent as federal officials consider new Colorado River operating rules. Arizona Farm Bureau News reported that Arizona water officials are pushing for the Lower Basin proposal as an alternative to deeper federal cuts. The proposal includes mandatory reductions across Arizona, California, and Nevada, along with additional voluntary savings through 2028.
The Arizona Farm Bureau also reported that the Central Arizona Project is now projecting a 14% shortage in its municipal water pool instead of 20%, partly by using water from Lake Pleasant and wells in Yuma. Even with that smaller projected shortage, cities and farms are still preparing for less water.
Agriculture remains a major part of the discussion. Arizona farmers are watching possible cuts closely because reductions to Colorado River water can affect planting decisions, crop choices, and operating costs. Those changes can also move beyond farms, reaching workers, local economies, and food supply chains.
Arizona is also looking at how to keep more water in the state. KJZZ reported that more than 95% of precipitation that falls in Arizona is lost to evapotranspiration. The reporting was based on the Arizona Tri-University Recharge and Water Reliability Project, which is studying ways to capture more rain, snowmelt, and runoff before it is lost to evaporation or plant use. The project is also looking at how more water can be moved into aquifers through recharge.
That research connects directly to questions about groundwater. As Colorado River supplies become less reliable, cities and rural areas are paying closer attention to underground storage, recharge, and long-term access to stored water.
The Desert Review reported that the Central Arizona Irrigation and Drainage District secured up to 10,000 acre-feet per year of new water supply from the Mojave Groundwater Bank in California. The agreement is another example of Arizona water users looking outside traditional supplies as Colorado River shortages continue.
Lake Powell also remained under pressure. The Guardian reported that the reservoir could fall to unprecedented lows after poor snowpack and limited spring runoff. KUTV and Newsweek reported on a proposal from scientists to move more water from Lake Powell to Lake Mead, arguing that storing more water in Lake Mead could reduce losses and protect downstream supplies. The idea is part of a larger debate over how the two major reservoirs should be managed as both remain low.
Colorado River negotiators are still working against a deadline. KTNV reported that officials remain hopeful the Basin states can reach a deal, but the federal government is also preparing its own plans. Current river operating rules expire after 2026, and states remain divided over how future cuts should be shared.
Restoration work is also continuing in the Upper Basin. The Durango Herald reported that Colorado River tributaries received restoration funding from the Forever Our Rivers Foundation. These projects are smaller than the large reservoir and shortage negotiations, but they are part of ongoing work to improve river health in local watersheds.
Taken together, the July 7 reports show water planning moving on several tracks at once. Arizona cities want certainty about stored water. Farmers are preparing for reduced supplies. State officials are trying to avoid deeper federal cuts. Researchers are studying recharge. Scientists are debating reservoir operations. River restoration projects are continuing even as the larger system remains under stress.
What does this mean for CRIT?
For the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the developments show how Arizona and the wider Basin are preparing for reduced Colorado River supplies through storage, recharge, conservation, and negotiation.
The reporting on underground storage and recharge shows that water security depends on more than the amount of water legally available. It also depends on infrastructure, access, delivery systems, and long-term planning.
Sources
Arizona Farm Bureau News
https://www.azfb.org/Article/Arizona-Throws-a-BuzzerBeater-to-Lessen-Colorado-River-Cuts
Imperial Valley Desert Review
https://www.thedesertreview.com/business/arizona-district-secures-up-to-10-000-acre-feet-per-year-from-new-ca-water/article_b62471c6-9ac1-4e29-b59a-23b256dfb9a8.html
KTNV ABC 13 Las Vegas
https://www.ktnv.com/news/official-hopeful-as-colorado-river-states-race-to-reach-water-deal-before-deadline
Durango Herald
https://www.durangoherald.com/tj/colorado-river-tributaries-receive-restoration-funding-from-forever-our-rivers-foundation
KUTV CBS 2 News Salt Lake City
https://kutv.com/news/local/scientists-propose-draining-lake-powell-to-preserve-water-in-lake-mead
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/07/lake-powell-water-crisis