Tuesday Top of the Scroll: Arizona water director wants $1M for potential lawsuit over sharing Colorado River
The state’s top water official is making contingency plans for a court fight if a deal can’t be worked out with other states for how to divide up Colorado River water in 2026 and beyond. Tom Buschatzke wants Gov. Katie Hobbs and state lawmakers to give him $1 million in what he is calling a “set-aside appropriation” in case there is no agreement – at least not to the state’s satisfaction – in the ongoing negotiations over the river. Ideally, he said, it won’t be necessary and the seven states, various tribes and federal agencies will work out a deal. But the director of the Department of Water Resources told Capitol Media Services that is far from a sure thing.
Other Colorado River articles:
- Denver Post: Front Range utility scrutinizes Colorado River water rights purchase
- Utah Public Radio: Researchers create a new tool to inform about post-2026 Colorado River management
- KJZZ: Listen: Allhands: This down-ballot race could have big implications for future of Arizona’s water
- Arizona Republic: Down with more dams? A new book envisions Glen Canyon and Colorado River recovery