Arizona is going to court over the federal plan that cuts its share of the Colorado River, joining a lawsuit Nevada filed in August.
Gov. Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Department of Water Resources announced Friday, Oct. 16, that the state has filed a motion to intervene in Nevada's case against the U.S. Interior Department's operating plan for the river.
Under that plan, finalized by the Bureau of Reclamation in August, Arizona must cut its use by 760,000 acre-feet a year in both 2027 and 2028, the largest reduction of any state. California and Nevada also take mandatory cuts; the four Upper Basin states, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico, do not.
An acre-foot is roughly 326,000 gallons.
The state's argument
Hobbs said the federal government "refuses to hold the upper basin accountable for the water deliveries they owe Arizona" and is threatening cuts that go well beyond what the three Lower Basin states agreed to among themselves.
"Arizona has always been willing to do our part to protect the Colorado River, but we will not accept a forced federal plan that solves this crisis on the backs of our families, farmers, and businesses," she said in the announcement, adding, "We are drawing a line in the sand."
According to Courthouse News Service, Hobbs said joining the case lets Arizona challenge parts of the final environmental impact statement and record of decision that, in the state's view, unlawfully fail to require Upper Basin reservoirs to send water to Lake Mead.
Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke said intervening is necessary now "to protect its legal rights to Colorado River water while preserving a path forward" to a joint solution with California and Nevada. Hobbs said the state will keep working with those two states to carry out their Lower Basin Agreement while the case proceeds.
