The following is an op-ed from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman which originally ran in the Arizona Republic Few issues unite Arizonans more than water security. Throughout the desert, we understand that water is life and take pride in our culture of conservation. The careful stewardship of our water has guided our state and our cities, … Read More
Lake Powell and the Dam That May Not Hold: A Crisis Decades in the Making
The Colorado River has been in trouble for a long time. But a new wave of reporting suggests the situation may be moving from chronic to acute, with Lake Powell potentially reaching “deadpool” status before the end of 2026. For the 40 million people across seven states who depend on the river, this is no longer a distant warning…it is … Read More
Guest Editorial: Water – Lifeblood of the Desert Southwest
By Betty Janik & Sonnie Kirtley The desert southwest has suffered sustained drought since the mid 1990’s and this condition is expected to continue. Recent winters experienced record setting heat which intensifies the condition. Water from the Colorado River is hurting and by extension, the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal. The CAP delivers water to the most populated regions in … Read More
Is Water Taking a Back Seat in Scottsdale City Governance? A New Development Implies As Such
By Ronald Sampson Scottsdale has long prided itself on being one of the most forward-thinking cities in the American West when it comes to water policy. For a desert municipality that has watched the Colorado River shrink for decades, that reputation wasn’t just a point of civic pride; it was existential planning. Which is what makes a quiet but consequential … Read More
$10.4 million win positions Scottsdale to take first step to transform WestWorld drainage infrastructure
The Water Infrastructure Financing Authority of Arizona (WIFA) has approved a $10,436,918 low-cost loan, including $1 million in principal forgiveness, to support major drainage improvements at WestWorld of Scottsdale — a key priority of Mayor Lisa Borowsky’s administration. The investment marks a major first step forward in delivering long-needed improvements that will enhance WestWorld’s safety, operations, and economic performance, Mayor … Read More
Guest Editorial: Scottsdale Water is Fast Becoming the New Gold!
By Bob Littlefield Dear Friends: For years overdevelopment has taken a heavy toll on Scottsdale’s special character and high quality of life. Clogged roads, blocked views, higher taxes and overburdened infrastructure have been the legacy of the overdevelopment previous City Council majorities have approved. But now, overdevelopment poses another threat to Scottsdale’s residents – water shortages! Arizona is suffering from … Read More
Mayor Borowsky blasts draft Colorado River plan, urges adequate protection for Scottsdale’s future
Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky is calling on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to revise its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for post‑2026 Colorado River operations, warning that the current proposal fails to protect cities like Scottsdale that depend heavily on the Central Arizona Project (CAP) for its water supply. Mayor Borowsky submitted a detailed letter to the Bureau of Reclamation … Read More
Water: Protecting Scottsdale’s Lifeline
By Councilmember Solange Whitehead This past week, Western states that depend on the Colorado River failed to agree on rules for sharing increasingly scarce water resources, so the federal government may impose its own. Current proposals being discussed could cut Arizona’s share significantly. Scottsdale relies on the Colorado River for roughly 70% of our water, putting us more at risk … Read More
Water Issues are Back to the Forefront in Arizona: How Concerned Should You Be?
The collapse of Colorado River negotiations on November 11 wasn’t just a bureaucratic failure; it’s a warning sign that Arizona’s water future remains deeply uncertain. When Governor Katie Hobbs and bipartisan legislative leaders jointly urged federal intervention, calling Colorado River reliability “a matter of national security,” they weren’t being hyperbolic. The question isn’t whether Arizona faces water challenges, but how severe those … Read More
A Dry Canary in the Coalmine: What Scottsdale’s Analysis Says About Arizona’s Future
Arizona’s water crisis has reached a tipping point, and Scottsdale’s recent experiences serve as a stark preview of what may await the entire state. As the Colorado River continues its relentless decline through more than two decades of drought, Arizona faces an increasingly precarious water future that demands immediate attention and long-term strategic planning. The Numbers Don’t Lie: Arizona will … Read More