To amend the Colorado River Basin Project Act to provide for the equitable distribution of Colorado River water for the lower basin States, and for other purposes.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill amends section 301(b) of the Colorado River Basin Project Act, which governs priority treatment for Central Arizona Project water during shortages. The new language would require that, in times of shortage or reduction of mainstream Colorado River water for the Central Arizona Project as determined by the Secretary, all diversions from the Colorado River for consumptive use by Arizona, California, and Nevada be reduced pro rata relative to their base annual apportionments. It also says the reductions occur without preference to present perfected rights. The practical effect is to replace a priority-based shortage rule with a proportional shortage-sharing rule among the lower basin states for the covered circumstances.
Who Benefits and How
Arizona water users, Central Arizona Project customers, municipalities, tribes, irrigation districts, and communities that currently bear disproportionate shortage pressure may benefit if reductions are spread proportionally across Arizona, California, and Nevada. Federal water managers benefit from a clearer statutory rule if Congress wants lower basin shortage allocations to track base apportionments rather than priority status.
Who Bears the Burden and How
California water users with senior or present perfected rights, Nevada water users, agricultural districts, municipal water suppliers, and lower basin water agencies may face reduced deliveries when proportional cuts replace priority preferences. The Bureau of Reclamation, state water agencies, irrigation districts, and water-rights counsel must calculate pro-rata reductions, update operating plans, manage disputes, and communicate changes to cities, farms, tribes, and hydropower-related users.
Key Provisions
- Amends the Colorado River Basin Project Act shortage provision for the Central Arizona Project.
- Requires Arizona, California, and Nevada consumptive-use diversions to be reduced pro rata in covered shortage conditions.
- Bases reductions on each lower basin state's base annual apportionment.
- Bars preference for present perfected rights in the covered proportional reduction rule.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Changes Colorado River shortage rules for the lower basin so Arizona, California, and Nevada diversions are reduced pro rata relative to base annual apportionments when the Secretary determines a shortage or reduction applies to Central Arizona Project water.
Key Policy Areas
Water Infrastructure, State & Local Government, Agriculture
Primary Purpose
Changes Colorado River shortage rules for the lower basin so Arizona, California, and Nevada diversions are reduced pro rata relative to base annual apportionments when the Secretary determines a shortage or reduction applies to Central Arizona Project water.
Policy Domains
Substantive provisions
Identified Gains
- Arizona water users
- Central Arizona Project customers
- Municipal water suppliers in Arizona
- Tribal water users
- Federal water managers
Identified Costs
- California senior water-right holders
- Nevada water users
- Agricultural irrigation districts
- Bureau of Reclamation staff
- State water agencies
- Water-rights counsel
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeReferred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Mr. Schweikert introduced the following bill; which was referred to …
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
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