While Arizonans continue to watch the battle for their water from the Colorado River play out, that water itself is having other issues this winter.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs traveled to Washington, D.C., late last week to meet with governors and water policy professionals from the Upper and Lower Basin states and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to discuss ongoing Colorado River negotiations.
At its most basic, the impasse stems from Upper Basin states — Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico — calling on the Lower Basin states — Arizona, California and Nevada — to reduce water use while Lower Basin states are calling on the Upper states to strengthen their conservation efforts. More than 40 million people rely at least in part on the Colorado River for drinking water, crop irrigation, hydropower and other needs.
