Gallego, Kelly Joint Statement on Final Colorado River Environmental Review

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released a new federal operating plan that could reduce Arizona, California, and Nevada’s Colorado River allocation by as much as 40 percent WASHINGTON – Today, Arizona Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) released the following statement on the Bureau of Reclamation’s Final Environmental Impact Statement for post-2026 operations of the Colorado River: “The framework outlined in the Department of Interior’s Final Environmental Impact Statement could place an unfair burden on Arizona, including the possibility of reducing the Lower Basin’s Colorado River allocation by as much as 40 percent, without requiring comparable commitments from the Upper Basin. Arizona, California, and Nevada have already put forward a fair, practical proposal to stabilize Lake Mead and Lake Powell through shared conservation, and that proposal should serve as the foundation for the next set of Colorado River operating guidelines 2027 and 2028. “We remain committed to working with all seven Basin states, Tribal nations, water users, and the federal government to reach a durable agreement that protects Arizona’s water future, strengthens the Colorado River system, and ensures every Basin partner does its part.”