Arizona officials warn that federal proposals to manage Colorado River shortages could devastate the state's water supply. The Coalition for Protecting Arizona's Lifeline, backed by the Central Arizona Project, launched ads claiming Arizona is being unfairly targeted for cuts that would cripple the economy and national defense. The group argues that Arizona communities have already conserved more water in Lake Mead than other states.

CAP General Manager Brenda Burman warned that one federal alternative would essentially dry up the canal supplying Phoenix and Tucson, effectively removing Arizona from the map. The agency has rejected all proposed alternatives as unfairly penalizing Arizona while demanding less from upstream states. These proposals were never stated as the Trump administration's preference but rather as potential frameworks for the seven states sharing the river water.

In normal times, CAP was entitled to 1.6 million acre-feet of water annually, but recent drought has forced the agency to forego over 500,000 acre-feet per year. The coalition emphasizes the 1922 Colorado River Compact, which guarantees water delivery from Upper Basin states to Arizona, California, and Nevada. As states prepare for potential legal battles, CAP is making clear it will demand compact compliance if other states don't cut their usage sufficiently.