Arizona panel backs Colorado River drought plan

A multi-state agreement to conserve Colorado River water is taking an important step forward after a key legislative panel signed off in Arizona.

Arizona is the only state that requires the Legislature’s approval to join a drought contingency plan negotiated by the seven states that draw water from the constrained river.

A state House committee approved it on Tuesday, two days before a deadline for the states to reach agreement or risk the federal government imposing strict cutbacks.

Lawmakers backed two measures. One allows Arizona to join the multi-state agreement. The other implements a series of agreements intended to reduce the burden on farmers.

A Senate committee is scheduled to consider the same legislation on Wednesday, paving the way for the full Legislature to vote.

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4:30 p.m.

Farmers from Central Arizona urged lawmakers to approve a complex web of agreements that would let the state sign onto a plan to conserve Colorado River water and help the farmers adapt to a smaller water supply.

A state House committee discussed the agreements on Tuesday as a deadline looms for the state to join later this week.

The farmers from Pinal County say they need the legislation to stay in business. The county’s irrigation districts are low-priority water users and would be hardest hit by curtailing Colorado River supplies. The legislation would give them access to water from other sources and money for infrastructure.

But Sandy Bahr of the Sierra Club says the drought deal will encourage harmful groundwater pumping.