WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland calling on the Department of the Interior to facilitate negotiations between the Colorado River Basin States and establish the department’s authority if the states cannot reach an agreement on their own.

“Arizona has already been leading the way in water conservation efforts among the Colorado River Basin States to help solve the water shortage, yet Arizonans are facing an outsized reduction in their water allocation,” said Congresswoman Lesko. “I am calling on the Department of the Interior to facilitate the negotiations between the Basin States and urge other states, including California, to make cuts in line with their own water usage.”

In August 2022, the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation announced new operating conditions for Lakes Mead and Powell. These new conditions reduced Arizona’s water allocation by an additional 80,000 acre-feet, bringing Arizona’s total reduction to 529,000 acre-feet, or 21 percent of Arizona’s Colorado River water allocation.

Lesko was joined by Representatives Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ-04) in sending the letter.

Read the full letter here.

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