Arizona Republican legislative leaders met with U.S. Department of Interior Assistant Secretary Andrea Travnicek and Bureau of Reclamation Acting Commissioner Scott Cameron to discuss urgent measures for the Colorado River, according to an April 16 announcement. House Speaker Steve Montenegro and Senate President Warren Petersen led the meeting, joined by Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope, Senator Tim Dunn, and Representative Gail Griffin.
The group called on federal authorities to use the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956 to release water from Upper Basin state reservoirs in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico. This action aims to protect hydropower generation and prevent dead pool conditions as Lake Mead and Lake Powell face critically low levels.
“Lake Mead and Lake Powell are running dangerously low, at just 25% to 33%, while reservoirs in the Upper Basin are nearly full, between 82% and 97%,” said Montenegro. “It is clearly evident from the dire situation that the water sitting upstream must be released so it can flow downstream to Lake Powell.”
Petersen said: “The seven basin states are facing a real crisis, and it’s going to take bold action to fix it. We need serious investment in water infrastructure and major projects that can actually move the needle. The Trump administration is the most qualified and competent partner to get this done, unlike any prior administration, and we’re confident that together we can save the Colorado River system.”
Republican lawmakers proposed both immediate actions—such as $1 billion per year in federal funds for voluntary conservation—and long-term strategies including new water augmentation projects like dams or desalination plants. Dunn said: “We must fund conservation at scale and use every authority available to help stabilize the system before we hit a breaking point.” He also noted concerns about previous compensation programs such as ‘Intentionally Created Surplus.’
Griffin said: “We want to support President Trump and deliver a major win for Arizona and the entire Southwest…President Trump has a real opportunity to act on these projects and leave a lasting legacy for himself and the entire western United States.”
House and Senate leaders urged agencies also use existing emergency declarations—including one issued by President Trump in January 2025—to provide critical resources addressing poor hydrological projections.
Carbone, a Republican who was elected in 2023 representing Arizona’s 25th House District after replacing Michelle Udall,according to Ballotpedia, was not mentioned among attendees but remains an active member of state leadership.
