Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs called on the Trump administration Wednesday to step into the brawl among Western states over access to the drought-depleted Colorado River.
Speaking to a meeting of the National Water Resources Association, Hobbs blasted upstream states Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico for refusing to commit to reducing their water use while demanding sharp reductions from the downstream states of Arizona, California and Nevada.
“This is the extreme negotiating position we are confronted with as the Upper Basin States, led by Colorado, continue to run down the clock,” Hobbs said, according to prepared remarks. “As we approach critical deadlines, we need the Trump administration to step in, exert leadership and broker a deal.”
The remarks come as negotiators for the seven states that share the river are meeting in Las Vegas to try to hammer out a water-sharing deal ahead of a Nov. 11 deadline set by the Trump administration.
