"Interior Department Friday announce steep reductions for lower basin state, tribes say they were not given proper consideration"

"When the plan was released in draft form last month, the tribes argued they were not sufficiently party to the decision making process and that the proposed use plan does not reflect their rights.

The Colorado River Indian Tribes “holds water rights to over 23 percent of Arizona’s entire allocation of Colorado River water,” the tribes’ Attorney General Rebecca Loudbear wrote to the Bureau of Reclamation earlier this month when the preliminary water cut plans were released. “Our limited role in this process does not reflect the nature and extent of our water rights.” 

The Colorado River Indian Tribes is one of the largest shareholders of Colorado River water in Arizona and has some of the most legally untouchable water rights pertaining to the river."

Daniel Herrera Carbajal reports for ICT August 21, 2026. [2]