Arizona Resists Federal River Cuts | Mesa News

Mesa News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 6, 2026 · 2m

Arizona is fiercely resisting a new federal drought plan for the Colorado River, arguing it unfairly singles out the state for massive water cuts while upstream states escape similar penalties. The Bureau of Reclamation’s 10-year framework threatens deep reductions if conditions worsen, but Arizona pushes for phased, smaller cuts and voluntary conservation in the first two years. With Lake Mead at historic lows and Lower Basin states bearing mandatory cuts, Rep. Greg Stanton calls the plan a “total failure of leadership,” urging shared responsibility across the basin. Arizona is already…