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July 11, 2025 – Tucson city leaders today assured residents that the local water supply is not in immediate danger, even as a long-awaited federal report on Colorado River operations introduces new uncertainty for the Southwest. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation published its Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Friday, detailing a preferred framework for managing Lake Powell and Lake Mead starting in 2027. But Tucson Water officials say the city’s diversified portfolio and decades of smart planning insulate it from short-term shocks.
The EIS lays out a 10-year decision-making structure for the Colorado River, running through 2036. It sets operating principles and limits, while creating a process for updating guidelines in two-year cycles. Importantly, the document does not finalize specific water-delivery cuts for 2027 and 2028. For modeling purposes, it borrows from a shortage-allocation proposal that the Lower Basin states submitted in May 2026. Those numbers remain preliminary and do not dictate Tucson’s actual reduction or voluntary conservation contribution, according to the city.
“We’ve been preparing for this moment for years,” said Mayor Regina Romero in a statement. “The Colorado River is essential to Tucson’s future and the region’s economic vitality. As we digest today’s announcement, the city remains committed to long-term water security through collaboration with state, tribal, federal, and regional partners.”
City Manager Tim Thomure echoed that sentiment, noting that Tucson has invested heavily in a diversified water portfolio and long-range resource planning. “We will carefully evaluate this proposal and continue to ensure our customers that Tucson’s water future is secure,” he said.
Tucson Water Director John Kmiec revealed that his technical team has already begun dissecting the EIS to understand its operational, legal, and planning implications. “This proposal is an important step in shaping Colorado River management for years to come,” Kmiec said. “Our priority is to fully grasp what it means for Tucson, and to keep advancing practical, collaborative solutions that protect long-term water reliability. Our work on Advanced Water Purification is a direct, forward-looking, and local response to the stress on the Colorado River.”
The city’s water safeguards include a broad range of sources: Colorado River allocations via the Central Arizona Project (CAP), groundwater pumping, stored water reserves, and recharge programs. Tucson also maintains one of the most aggressive conservation campaigns in the arid West, with per-capita water use well below the regional average. These buffers give the city flexibility even if future federal guidelines mandate deeper cuts.
“The EIS is a starting point, not a final decision,” said Dr. Sarah Chen, a water resources analyst at the University of Arizona’s Water Resources Research Center, who was not involved in the city’s review. “Tucson’s groundwater banking and recharge systems give it a cushion that many other Colorado River users lack. The city can draw on stored water during dry years without immediately affecting customer taps.”
Local water managers are also coordinating closely with the Central Arizona Project and the Arizona Department of Water Resources. A CAP spokesperson told KVOA that the authority is analyzing the EIS and will release a detailed impact assessment later this month. “We’re in active dialogue with Tucson Water and other partners to ensure a unified regional response,” the spokesperson said.
The EIS comes as Lake Mead and Lake Powell remain at historically low levels after two decades of megadrought. Climate projections suggest that even with modest snowpack recovery, the basin’s water supply will continue to be stretched. The new framework aims to balance the needs of cities
