The state’s top water official is making contingency plans if a deal to divide Colorado River water can’t be worked out with other states in 2026 and beyond.
Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke is asking Gov. Katie Hobbs and the Legislature to give his agency $1 million in case they need to take the issue to court.
Arizona is a lower priority state for Colorado River water allocation, and Buschatzke says he wants to be prepared for potential outcomes.
"One of those potential outcomes could be a time at which the Central Arizona Project could be completely dry because of certain interpretations of what a junior priority might mean,'' Buschatzke said.
There has been no indication if Hobbs will include the request in the budget proposal she will submit to the Legislature in January.
