During the successful Drought Contingency Planning (DCP) process that kicked off for Arizona almost exactly two years ago, water issues dominated the headlines. The success of that effort was due to the commitment and hard work of leaders in the water community and a public process focused on the perspectives of varied Arizona stakeholder interests.

Now, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and Central Arizona Project (CAP) are using this same approach to develop an Arizona consensus on the “reconsultation” of the Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and the Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead, known as the 2007 Guidelines.

Before the end of 2026, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior will develop new guidelines for the long-term management of the Colorado River system. The Colorado River Basin States will play a leading role in the process to develop those new guidelines. The process will take many years and require multiple levels of discussion, negotiation and coordination within Arizona and among the Basin states.

From 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, June 25, ADWR and CAP will reconvene Arizona’s Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan (LBDCP) Steering Committee delegates to form the Arizona Reconsultation Committee (ARC). Those who followed the DCP process will remember the standing-room-only meetings. Due to COVID-19, in-person meetings are not feasible right now; therefore, the new ARC delegates will hold a virtual kick-off meeting that will be livestreamed to the public. Both the livestream and a public comment form can be accessed here. Please note:

• The livestream will be active 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting
• Comments and questions may be submitted before or during the meeting. They will be addressed during the Public Comment period toward the end of the agenda, unless the chairs decide a response is relevant and helpful to the item at hand.   

Discussion will include:

• Update on Colorado River conditions
• Status of the implementation of the Drought Contingency Plan
• Outline of a process to prepare Arizona for the reconsultation of the 2007 Guidelines

The ARC process is expected to take several years and information will be shared throughout the process on both the ADWR and CAP websites.

Need to brush up on a little background before the kick-off meeting? Here are a few links to get you started:

• Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead (2007 Interim Guidelines)
• Review of the 2007 Interim Guidelines (7.D. Review)
• 7.D Review – Colorado River Basin States Comment Letter (May 19, 2020)
• Arizona Drought Contingency Implementation Plan (ADWR website)
• Arizona Drought Contingency Implementation Plan (CAP website)

Details:

• What: Reconvening the Arizona Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan Steering Committee as the Arizona Reconsultation Committee (ARC)
• When: Thursday, June 25, 10 a.m. – noon
• How: Via livestream link, to be activated the morning of June 25
• Why: To develop an Arizona consensus on the “reconsultation” of the Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and the Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead, known as the 2007 Guidelines

Questions? Please contact:

Shauna Evans, ADWR: [email protected]

DeEtte Person, CAP: [email protected]