Scottsdale prepared to evaluate upcoming Colorado River operating decision

The Bureau of Reclamation is expected to soon release its post-2026 operating guidelines for the Colorado River. Scottsdale has been anticipating this decision and is prepared to carefully evaluate what it means for the city's long-term water supplies.

Because Colorado River operations are governed by a complex framework of federal, state and regional agreements, Scottsdale Water experts will conduct a thorough technical review once the Bureau of Reclamation releases its decision. While the federal decision establishes the framework, the State of Arizona, the Central Arizona Project and other water management partners must determine how those guidelines will ultimately be implemented. Until that process is complete, it will not be possible to determine what impact the decision will have on Scottsdale's water supplies.

That measured approach reflects the city's decades-long commitment to planning rather than reacting to changing conditions.

"Scottsdale has planned for changing Colorado River conditions for decades," City Manager Greg Caton said. "We've never relied on a single source of water or a single solution. Our long-term strategy is designed to adapt to changing conditions while continuing to provide a reliable water supply for our residents and businesses."

Today, Scottsdale does not use its full Colorado River entitlement. Instead, the city annually stores thousands of acre-feet of its available Central Arizona Project water underground through Arizona's aquifer recharge program for future use. Scottsdale has also voluntarily left thousands of acre-feet of water in Lake Mead in recent years as part of a regional system conservation effort to help protect the Colorado River system.

At the same time, the city continues to strengthen its groundwater infrastructure to ensure those stored supplies remain accessible when needed. One new groundwater well is nearing completion, with five additional wells currently under construction or being rehabilitated. These investments will enhance Scottsdale's ability to recover its approximately 280,000 acre-feet of long-term storage credits that the city has strategically accumulated over the past several decades.

Scottsdale's five-part water strategy includes:

• Conservation and demand management
• Groundwater resources in Harquahala
• Evaluation of Pure Water initiatives
• Expansion of Bartlett Dam
• Development of additional long-term water supplies

This diversified approach has strengthened Scottsdale's water resilience and positioned the city to respond to evolving conditions throughout the Colorado River Basin.

The city will not speculate on the impacts of the Bureau's decision until its technical review is complete. City officials will share updates as additional details become available.