At the Greater Phoenix Chamber, we have always maintained that water certainty is economic certainty. While the newly released two-year Operating Guidelines provide a critical bridge of stability through 2028, the long-term framework proposed beyond that date creates profound uncertainty that threatens the future of Arizona’s economy.
We recognize the Bureau of Reclamation’s adoption of the historic three-state agreement proposed by the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California, and Nevada. This commitment to conserve 3.2 million acre-feet through 2028 is a testament to Arizona’s long-standing leadership in water management and our ability to do more with less.
Our state has set the benchmark through decades of innovative conservation and infrastructure investments, which is why any feasible long-term agreement must build upon this foundation rather than penalize it. Unfortunately, the post-2028 framework does not meet that objective. As proposed, it places a disproportionate and draconian burden on Arizona while failing to ensure the upper basin states do their part. It should be unacceptable to authorize a framework that requires no mandatory cuts or conservation from Upper Basin states, while simultaneously putting Arizona’s families and economy at risk. A plan that ignores the Law of the River and shifts the entire weight of the drought to the Lower Basin is not a solution – it is a direct threat to our economic future.
The Colorado River is a single, interconnected system, and long-term success requires a balanced and fair approach where responsibility is shared across all seven basin states. While we support the immediate stability provided by the two-year bridge, we will remain firm in our advocacy alongside state leaders to ensure any permanent agreement respects Arizona’s legal rights and secures the economic certainty our state deserves.