Gov. Hobbs makes pitch for Arizona's share of Colorado River water

Gov. Katie Hobbs is trying to enlist the national business community in her bid to preserve as much of the state's share of Colorado River water as possible — and stop what she called a plan to "kneecap'' Arizona and the businesses here.

In a speech prepared for delivery in Washington, the governor acknowledged that Arizona has the lowest priority in rights when it comes to demanding a share of the river. And with the historic drought and depleting flow, that could lead to the state getting hit the hardest as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, part of the federal Department of Interior, divides up who gets what's left.

But Hobbs, in her remarks to members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said there are reasons — beyond what is enshrined in old agreements — for Arizona to get more.

"I firmly believe Arizona has the most to offer in advancing national priorities of AI, national defense, and technological advancement,'' the governor said.

Hobbs said Arizona has done more than its share to conserve.

She pointed out that Arizona uses roughly the same amount of water in total now — not on a per capita basis but total consumption — as it did in the late 1950s when the population was just a seventh of what it is now. That is due to conservation and retiring farmland.

"And we're willing to do more,'' the governor said.

The original hope had been that the seven states that divide up the river could reach a voluntary agreement. But that fell apart when the Upper Basin states of Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah refused to take further cuts, saying they already use less water than the lower basin states of Arizona, Nevada and California.

So that leaves the Bureau of Reclamation to either force the seven states to come to a "reasonable and fair agreement'' — or impose a solution, something that Hobbs said will put the state's water supply and those who depend on it in jeopardy.

"The current federal plan is to balance a water shortage completely on Arizona's back, threatening to kneecap our ability to fuel these industries that are critical to national security,'' the governor said.

And Hobbs is relying on current events to make her case.

"With the ongoing conflict in Iran and the decimation of America's missile supply, Arizona's massive aerospace and defense industry is more important than ever,'' she said. "We literally build the defense systems that keep Americans and our allies safe.''

That includes the Tomahawk cruise missiles, produced in Tucson by Raytheon.

But the governor is not relying on just the military arguments.

"In our struggle against China in the AI arms race, Arizona semiconductors are the key to victory for the Western world,'' she said.

There's also the need for water "to feed America,'' with estimates that the state produces about 25% of the entire U.S. lettuce supply — and about 90% of the leafy greens and winter vegetables.

All that, Hobbs said, is a reason for the Trump administration to take notice — and ensure that Arizona is not short-changed on the Colorado River.

"Let me be very clear: This administration's goals rely on Arizona receiving our fair share of Colorado River water,'' she said, including missiles, semiconductors and agriculture.

"There is no onshoring of mission-critical supply chains or military preparedness without a secure water future for Arizona,'' Hobbs said. "This administration must step in, show leadership, and help the seven states come to a reasonable and fair agreement and ensure Arizona has the ability to defend our nation, feed our nation, and build the high-tech economy of our nation's future.''

Still, while Hobbs is trying to build support for the Bureau of Reclamation to enforce that "reasonable and fair agreement,'' she also is preparing for the worst. The state has already set aside $3 million to be used to hire lawyers to fight it out in court should that become necessary.