HCR 2038

House Engrossed
Colorado River;
  seven-state agreement
State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 2038
A
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
supporting a seven-state consensus
agreement on post-2026 operating guidelines on the colorado river.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Whereas, key operating guidelines for
the Colorado River between Upper Basin and Lower Basin states expire this year;
and
����� Whereas, the Colorado River is a vital resource for this
state, as Arizona's major population center, agricultural industry, advanced
technology sector, tribal communities and military bases rely heavily on water
from the Colorado River; and
����� Whereas, supporting Arizona's economy and the state as a
whole is vital to national security, national economy and the national food
supply; and
����� Whereas, within the overall Colorado River Basin,
approximately 75 percent of all jobs, people, crop sales and economic activity
are located within the Lower Basin States of Arizona, California and Nevada;
and
����� Whereas, Arizona has been meeting and continues to meet
with Upper Basin states to find a consensus on the additional reductions that
will be needed to ensure compliance with the 1922 Colorado River Compact; and
Whereas, Arizona and the Lower Basin States have offered and
continue to offer collaborative solutions to proactively protect the Colorado
River system; and
����� Whereas,
Arizona is using less water today than in the 1950s despite population growth
of more than 500 percent; and
����� Whereas,
the Lower Basin States have already taken real, meaningful reductions to conserve almost 8.9
million acre-feet in Lake Mead since 2007; and
����� Whereas,
between 2023 and 2026, the Lower Basin States
will have generated
up to 3.7 million acre-feet of verified audited conservation, safeguarding the
Colorado River system; and
����� Whereas, Arizona has invested $211 million in water
conservation projects that will save up to 6.6 million acre-feet of water over
the respective lives of the projects; and
����� Whereas, Arizona remains diligent in its efforts to work
together, continue meeting and find a solution that provides certainty to all
Basin States while protecting the Colorado River system; and
����� Whereas, the Lower Basin States have provided a solution
that is intended to address the structural deficit in the Lower Basin and share
reductions needed to protect the Colorado River system; and
����� Whereas, throughout the negotiations with the Basin
States, it is necessary to reach an agreement that continues to benefit all Basin
States while sharing the risk of reductions.
Therefore
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
Arizona, the Senate concurring:
����� That the Members of the Legislature support a mutual,
seven-state agreement that benefits all Basin States and protects the major
population centers and industries in Arizona that are vital to our national
security, economy and food supply.