Arizona officials look to reach Colorado River drought deal

PHOENIX» Progress is being made in talks toward a set of agreements for cities, farmers and tribes to share in Colorado River water cutbacks, according to Arizona water officials.

The Arizona Republic reports that the state water officials also want to join in a larger proposed deal to prevent Lake Mead from dropping even further.

Arizona water managers have been leading a series of biweekly meetings since July to work out details of the proposed droughtcontingency plan.

Two officials leading the talks said they’re optimistic about finalizing agreements within Arizona in November so the state Legislature can sign off in January.

The proposed threestate plan would involve California, Arizona and Nevada jointly taking less water out of Lake Mead to give the reservoir a boost.

Based on Arizona’s priority system of water rights, complying with the plan without an additional adjustment would cut off water for farmers who depend on deliveries from the Central Arizona Project.

Tom Buschatzke, director of the state Department of Water Resources, said the idea is to reach an agreement that “more equi tably spreads around the pain and the benefits” of the droughtcontingency plan in Arizona.

Water levels at Lake Mead are near historic lows and federal Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman has urged representatives of Arizona, California and Nevada to finish up their negotiations on the droughtcontingency plan.

Arizona officials have said the goal now isn’t to prevent a shortage, which is looking likely in little more than a year from now, but rather to prevent even more severe shortages.

Lake Mead is now just 38 percent full.