PHOENIX—Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s publication of proposed actions it may take to protect the Colorado River system between 2024 and 2026. 

“I’m encouraged that the Bureau is finally taking this step to protect the near-term health of the Colorado River—but any proposed action that does not require each Basin state to equitably share this sacrifice is not viable,” Stanton said. “Saving the River will require collaboration and compromise. Unless we can reach a seven-state agreement, action alternative two is the only path forward.”

USBR’s draft supplemental environmental impact statement proposes two action alternatives, to protect the near-term health of the Colorado River System. Action alternative one would make cuts by user priority, while action alternative two would make proportional cuts across the board. 

Under action alternative one, Arizona would take the vast majority of the cuts while California’s contribution would continue to be minimal.