WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema released the following statement after the seven Colorado River Basin states came together to approve Drought Contingency Plans for the upper and lower Colorado Basins. The states sent a letter to Congress urging swift congressional action to formalize the agreement.
“Today’s agreement marks a huge step forward in securing Arizona’s water future. I will work with my Colorado River Basin state colleagues to make sure Congress quickly does its part to make this agreement a reality.”
In response to the risk of a water shortage declaration, Arizonans from across the state negotiated a Drought Contingency Plan that makes voluntary reductions in water use in exchange for a more sustainable water future. The Arizona State Legislature passed a bill to give the Director of Water Resources the authority to sign onto the Drought Contingency Plan in late January.
Now that all seven Colorado River Basin states have come together and agreed on upper and lower Drought Contingency Plans for the Colorado River Basin, Congress must act to ensure the Bureau of Reclamation can enter into the agreement with states.