WASHINGTON, D.C—Representative Greg Stanton and Senator Mark Kelly led the entire Arizona congressional delegation in a letter requesting a meeting as soon as possible with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to discuss the future of the Colorado River. The request comes as negotiations between the seven basin states on post-2026 operating guidelines have stalled.
“More than 40 million people in seven states and 30 Tribes across the West rely on the Colorado River for water, food, energy and more. Yet the historic quarter-century long drought, along with overuse, has stretched the system to its absolute breaking point,” the lawmakers write.
They continue, “While we bought some time with the short-term conservation measures, we can’t take our focus off a state-driven, basin-wide agreement that acknowledges the significant shared risks and is equitable between the Lower and Upper Basins.”
The full letter is available HERE.
The letter was co-signed by Senator Ruben Gallego and Representatives Raúl M. Grijalva, David Schweikert, Andy Biggs, Yassamin Ansari, Elijah Crane, Abraham Hamadeh, Paul Gosar and Juan Ciscomani.