Arizona has a long, proud history of tackling water issues from a non-partisan approach. It is what has allowed us to meet human and environmental water demands despite climate uncertainty, ongoing drought, and decreasing flow in the Colorado River. Despite this legacy of sound water policy, HB 2112 has been introduced in the Arizona House and could require candidates for the Central Arizona Project (CAP) Board of Directors to have their party designation on the election ballot, bringing partisanship into water management.
The CAP describes itself as “the steward of Arizona’s Colorado River water entitlement and a collaborative leader in Arizona’s water community.” When selecting those who serve on the CAP Board, decisions should be based on what’s best for the Colorado River – not on partisan politics. The CAP Board’s decisions affect the water supply of 36 million people, 16 million jobs, 15 percent of the United States’ agriculture, and the vast majority of migrating birds in the inter-mountain west.
WRAN will always value our rivers, birds, and other wildlife over any political agenda. We’ll put politics aside when working to protect the future of birds like the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and we’ll work across party lines when promoting collaborative solutions to protect flow across the Colorado River Basin. Stand with us by taking action against this ill-conceived legislation today.