Gosar Challenged Colorado River Water Reduction Plan
The Congressman urged for equitable water usage cuts across states within the Lower Basin.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Utilities
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Should federal agencies assign equal water reduction percentages to states regardless of their population size?
Congressman Paul Gosar has called for more equitable water reduction requirements for Arizona under the Interior Department's proposed 2027 and 2028 Colorado River operating guidelines. The proposed plan currently assigns 760,000 acre-feet of cuts to Arizona, compared to 440,000 for California and 50,000 for Nevada.
Why it matters
Pressure on the Colorado River system has mounted due to prolonged drought and declining reservoir levels, affecting 40 million people across the Southwest. Gosar argues that Arizona has already implemented significant water-use reductions, warranting a fairer distribution of future cuts.
The Interior Department proposed a total annual reduction of 1.25 million acre-feet for the Lower Basin, with Arizona facing 760,000 acre-feet of those cuts. This proposal arrives as Arizona's population has grown to over 7.6 million, up from 1.7 million in 1968.
The players
Paul Gosar
He is a U.S. Congressman who founded the Colorado River Caucus in 2020 to focus on water management issues.
Doug Burgum
He serves as the Interior Secretary responsible for overseeing the development of federal water management guidelines.
The details
Congressman Paul Gosar, founder of the Colorado River Caucus, sent a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to contest the current distribution of water cuts. The ongoing negotiations involve all states in the Colorado River Basin as they seek to establish new management rules for the river's strained water supply.
Timeline
1968: Congress authorized the Central Arizona Project.
2020: Paul Gosar founded the Colorado River Caucus.
2027-2028: The period covered by the proposed Colorado River operating guidelines.
Market Landscape
These water negotiations represent a critical pivot point for Southwest utilities that rely on the Central Arizona Project infrastructure authorized in 1968. The current push for equitable cuts highlights a shift in regional power dynamics as states compete for water security within the strained Colorado River Basin.
The final distribution of water cuts will directly influence the long-term water availability and cost structure for residents and businesses across Arizona. Future policy decisions regarding these 760,000 acre-feet of reductions may impact municipal water planning and local service rates.
The takeaway
The struggle for fair water allocations underscores the escalating challenge of managing a shrinking resource for a growing population. Stakeholders should monitor future Interior Department announcements as the 2027-2028 guidelines move toward a final agreement.
Further reading
For more background on regional water management, visit the Utilities section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KAWC.
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Should federal agencies assign equal water reduction percentages to states regardless of their population size?
