Colorado River Shortage
ARIZONA - STRONGER TOGETHER
The Colorado River Basin continues to experience drought exacerbated by the impacts of climate change. The Lower Colorado River Basin is in a Tier 2a shortage for 2023. This represents a 592,000 acre-foot reduction to Arizona’s Colorado River supply, constituting 34% of Central Arizona Project’s normal supply in an average year, 21% of Arizona’s Colorado River supply and about 9% of Arizona’s total water use. Nearly all the reductions within Arizona have been taken by Central Arizona Project (CAP) water users. These reductions were determined by the CAP priority system – the result being less available Colorado River water for central Arizona agricultural users.
Meetings
Shortage Impacts
Joint ADWR/CAP press release regarding the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s declaration of a Tier 1 shortage on the Colorado River for 2022
Colorado River shortage will have various impacts on available water supply to CAP water users.

Documents
Media Statements
- Six States Meet Deadline with “Consensus-Based Modeling Alternative: Joint ADWR/CAP Statement”
- Colorado River States Submit a Consensus-Based Modeling Alternative to Bureau of Reclamation
- Joint ADWR/CAP statement in response to the U.S. Department of the Interior announcement regarding 2023 Operating Conditions for Lake Powell and Lake Mead
- Statement from CAP General Manager Ted Cooke in response to the announcement from the Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton regarding deteriorating conditions on the Colorado River system
- Joint ADWR/CAP Opinion Piece (Arizona Republic, Sunday, May 8) — Colorado River under stress – Arizona’s response
- Joint ADWR/CAP press release regarding the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s declaration of a Tier 1 shortage on the Colorado River for 2022
- April 24 Month Study joint statement
- Arizona’s shortage preparedness joint statement
More Information
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