Guest Editorial: What’s Up with Scottsdale Water?

By Betty Janik It is common knowledge that Colorado River water supply has been shrinking for over two decades and there will be significant cuts to Scottsdale’s water in the near future.  Fortunately, over the years, we have accumulated a reserve supply by banking unused CAP water. This will guide us through the next few years depending on the depth of the … Read More

Guest Editorial: What’s Up with Scottsdale Water

By Betty Janik It is common knowledge that Colorado River water supply has been shrinking for over two decades and there will be significant cuts to Scottsdale’s water in the near future.  Fortunately, over the years, we have accumulated a reserve supply by banking unused CAP water. This will guide us through the next few years depending on the depth of the … Read More

Op-Ed: Let’s Talk Honestly About Scottsdale’s Water Future

By Thyra Ryden-Diaz, Scottsdale Water Interim Senior Director If you follow water news in the Southwest, you’ve likely noticed a shift in tone in recent months. While the headlines remain serious, the conversation is becoming more balanced. Alongside concerns about drought and Colorado River reductions, there is growing recognition of the planning, investments, and regional cooperation helping stabilize the system. … Read More

Graham Doubles Down on Water Gamesmanship

By Linda Milhaven As Councilman Barry Graham is pursuing his re-election campaign, it seems that he may be creating a bogie man out of recycled water so he can make promises to save us from it. At the same time, he is boasting that he cut expenses but is not acknowledging the impacts of the cuts and delays in spending. … Read More

The July Surprise

A Meteor With a Timestamp There is a political meteor headed for Arizona, and most people don’t know it’s coming. Sometime this July, the federal Bureau of Reclamation is expected to announce its final framework for Colorado River water allocations post-2026. Seven states have spent two years failing to reach an agreement. So the federal government stepped in. Its draft … Read More

The Consequences For Scottsdale Could Be Even Worse…

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