Gov. Katie Hobbs is trying to enlist the national business community in her bid to preserve as much of the state’s share of Colorado River water as possible — and stop what she called a plan to “kneecap” Arizona and the businesses here.
In a speech prepared for delivery in Washington, the governor acknowledged Arizona has the lowest priority in rights when it comes to demanding a share of the river. With the historic drought and depleting flow, that could lead to the state getting hit the hardest as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, part of the federal Department of Interior, divides up who gets what’s left.
But Hobbs, in her remarks to members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said there are reasons — beyond what is enshrined in old agreements — for Arizona to get more.
