Arizona Watcher
Phoenix retained law firms Culp & Kelly and O'Melveny & Myers and held a closed City Council session to evaluate legal and regulatory options after the federal post‑2026 Colorado River environmental review; no lawsuit has been filed.
Mayor Kate Gallego said the federal framework risks placing disproportionate cuts on Arizona by limiting reductions on the Upper Basin, and she urged all seven basin states to share the burden of shrinking supplies.
Roughly 40% of Phoenix’s water comes from the Colorado River; city leaders say replacing those allocations—for example with desalinated ocean water—would require costly infrastructure and much higher supply costs.
Phoenix officials say there is no immediate risk to household water service, citing years of investments in recycling, conservation, underground storage, wells and alternative surface sources such as the Salt and Verde rivers.
City leaders warn higher costs for electricity, treatment chemicals and expensive replacement supplies could increase water bills and development impact fees; they are evaluating options to protect affordability.
Phoenix is pursuing a two‑track approach: engage in the federal decision process while using outside counsel to explore judicial or administrative remedies, and seek negotiated settlements if all parties act in good faith.
City staff requested authority to pursue mutual aid and transactional agreements with regional partners as they plan for federal scenarios that could include Central Arizona Project reductions on the order of about 1.1 million acre‑feet per year.
Phoenix has retained two law firms and convened city leaders behind closed doors to evaluate legal and regulatory options after the federal government released a final environmental impact statement for managing the Colorado River after 2026. Mayor Kate Gallego said the federal…