10/01/2026
The Colorado River supply is decreasing and Arizona is facing water cuts. While we have been a leader on water conservation over the last 20 years, we urgently need new sources of water and proactive solutions to get stalled projects moving.
Conservation on its own wonāt be able to safeguard the future of our water for generations to come.
Thatās why Iām supportive of Congressman Andy Biggsā Colorado River Basin Water Security and Infrastructure Act.
As usual, Biggs is leading the charge with real solutions and meaningful leadership (after years of sluggish inaction by Governor Hobbs).
Here are the key elements of the bill.
Gets the federal government out of the way so water projects can be built faster ā 1) Sets permitting deadlines, 2) ends redundant āstudyā requirements, and 3) provides congressional pre-auth for major projects.
Invests federal dollars in adding new water to the Colorado River system ā 1) Establishes a Basināwide Water Augmentation Fund, 2) sets up a generous 2:1 federal cost share (think of this as āmatchingā funds ā $2 from the federal government for every one local dollar).
Authorizes and accelerates federal construction in the Upper and Lower Basins ā 1) Restores the Yuma Desalting Plant to full capacity, 2) moves forward binational desalination with Mexico, Upper Basin development, and AZ/NV augmentation projects, and 3) captures California oceanādischarge to convert wasted stormwater and wastewater into usable supply,
This bill gets right to solutions and does what any good conservative solution should do: Reduces burdensome red tape and powers innovations with smart, targeted investments.
I commit to working with my colleagues in the Arizona legislature to approach some of these same solutions from the state level.
Now letās get this bill to President Trumpās desk! Our stateās water future depends on it.
