The Central Arizona Project has filed a motion to join the State of Nevada’s lawsuit against the new federal Colorado River plan.
CAP delivers water from the Colorado River to the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas. The organization has objected to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s plan to manage the river across the next decade.
The plan could see a reduction in river allocations for the Lower Basin states of Arizona, Nevada and California, while the Upper Basin states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico are to remain unaffected.
CAP fears the allocations may be reduced to zero, which would be “devastating to central and southern Arizona and the entire state.” CAP supplies water for 80% of residents and 90% of the Arizona economy.
According to CAP General Manager Brenda Burman, the plan does not consider the effect it could have on the economy and communities. The framework could further reduce allocations for the three Lower Basin states if the water supply continues to diminish over the next decade.
CAP’s announcement follows the State of Arizona announcing it joined the lawsuit on Oct. 16. Notably, CAP has junior water priority rights.
The short-term plan will reduce the Lower Basin’s allocations by 1.25 million acre-feet. The states agreed to the cuts for the next two years but objected to further cuts without the Upper Basin states also undergoing restrictions.
The Upper Basin states have argued they are already suffering from inadequate snowpack, which has forced them to reduce the amount of water given to farmers. The Upper Basin has also argued it uses significantly less water than the Lower Basin. (Source: The Arizona Republic)