The clock is ticking for Arizona and other states that draw water from the Colorado River. A stalemate persists between the seven states—divided into the upper basin and lower basin—over a water-sharing agreement that needs resolution by June 2026, as drought conditions continue and water levels in Lake Mead fall. Anxiety is growing in the region, with Fox 10 Phoenix reporting that Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs met with the Arizona Reconsultation Committee to negotiate a path forward.
Amid the pressure, Hobbs called for the upper basin states—which include Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—to participate actively in conservation efforts. According to AZ Central, Hobbs criticized the upper basin's conservation claims as being "water on paper" at a roundtable on May 13. Despite Arizona taking significant measures to conserve water, the upstream states have yet to propose cutbacks beyond naturally imposed limits by a reduced snowpack.
Arizona has made its position clear, presenting substantial conservation efforts and seeking compromises. The state has even proposed absorbing the first 1.5 million acre-feet of new cutbacks, with Governor Hobbs stressing the importance of a mutual agreement. "We have already put real water on the table for our lower basin proposal, and we will make sure that our neighbors in the upper basin do not shirk their responsibilities when it comes to reducing their water use to protect the river," Hobbs told Fox 10 Phoenix.
However, the upper basin states have been reluctant to engage in additional cutbacks, with their officials arguing that unlike the impact clearly visible in the Southwest, their water hardships, caused by the ongoing drought, remain largely invisible. As negotiations continue, Hobbs has indicated that Arizona is preparing to defend its water rights legally if necessary, with the specter of federal intervention looming should the states fail to reach an accord. The fear is, if a consensus is not reached voluntarily, federal action might dictate the water policies affecting millions for the next century, as reported by Fox 10 Phoenix.
