Odd Ball HCM2003 - 551R - H Ver of HCM2003

House Engrossed

Colorado river; urging augmentation

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

HOUSE CONCURRENT MEMORIAL 2003

A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL

urging the Secretary of the united states Department of the Interior to immediately take all necessary measures to provide for Colorado River augmentation and conservation.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

To the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, the United States Congress stated in the Colorado River Basin Project Act that the satisfaction of the requirements of the Mexican Water Treaty constitutes a national obligation; and

Whereas, under a treaty agreement entered into in 1973, the United States is required to ensure that water delivered to Mexico as part of Mexico's allocation of Colorado River water meets certain water quality standards; and

Whereas, the Colorado River system is in its twenty-first consecutive year of drought; and

Whereas, as a result of these drought conditions, the United States Department of the Interior is projecting that a shortage on the Colorado River is increasingly likely; and

Whereas, in the lower basin drought contingency plan agreement, the United States, through the Secretary of the Interior, committed to take affirmative actions to implement lower basin programs designed to create or conserve 100,000 acre-feet or more per year of Colorado River system water to contribute to the conservation of water supplies in Lake Mead or other Colorado River reservoirs in the lower basin; and

Whereas, the Central Arizona Project would bear the largest reduction of Colorado River water in times of shortage; and

Whereas, by abdicating its obligation to operate the Yuma Desalting Plant, or a suitable alternative the federal government has caused the loss of more than 1,800,000 acre-feet from Lake Mead; and

Whereas, if the federal government were to conserve 100,000 acre-feet per year, it would be equivalent to the water needed to supply more than 330,000 Arizona homes with water annually.

Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:

1. That the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior immediately take all necessary measures to fulfill its obligations to provide for Colorado River water augmentation and conservation.

2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.