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.

Bill Number

H.R. 7078

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Water Resources Development

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-01-14: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Last Updated

2026-02-10T21:40:17Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill, H.R. 7078, aims to amend the Colorado River Basin Project Act to ensure a fair and equal sharing of Colorado River water among the lower basin states (Arizona, California, and Nevada) during times of shortage, particularly affecting the Central Arizona Project. It promotes equitable distribution without favoring existing water rights.

Key Provisions

• Shortage Allocation Rule: When the U.S. Secretary of the Interior determines a shortage or reduction in Colorado River water for the Central Arizona Project (a major water delivery system in Arizona), water diversions for consumptive use (water used and not returned to the river) by Arizona, California, and Nevada must be cut back proportionally.
• Pro-Rata Basis: Reductions are based on each state's "base annual apportionment" (the standard yearly share of water allocated to them under prior agreements), ensuring equal percentage cuts relative to their shares.
• No Preference for Existing Rights: The rule eliminates any priority given to "present perfected rights" (legally established water claims from before the act).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The amendment revises Section 301(b) of the Colorado River Basin Project Act (43 U.S.C. 1521(b)), which previously allowed for shortage declarations but did not specify proportional cuts among the lower basin states or explicitly remove preferences for pre-existing water rights.
• This introduces a mandatory pro-rata reduction mechanism, shifting from potentially uneven or priority-based allocations during shortages to a more uniform approach.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The U.S. Secretary of the Interior gains clearer authority to enforce proportional cuts, which could streamline water management decisions by the Bureau of Reclamation (the federal agency overseeing Colorado River projects) but may increase administrative burdens in calculating and implementing pro-rata shares.
• On Citizens: Residents in Arizona, California, and Nevada relying on Colorado River water for drinking, agriculture, and industry may face more predictable but still reduced supplies during droughts, potentially affecting farming, urban water supplies, and costs for water users.
• On International Relations: The Colorado River is shared with Mexico under a 1944 treaty; while this bill focuses on U.S. lower basin states, changes could indirectly influence negotiations or deliveries to Mexico if overall shortages worsen, though it does not directly address international allocations.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Lower Basin States: Arizona (especially Central Arizona Project users like farmers and cities such as Phoenix), California (major agricultural areas like the Imperial and Coachella Valleys), and Nevada (Las Vegas and surrounding areas) will see direct changes in water access during shortages.
• Water Users: Farmers, municipalities, industries, and Native American tribes with water rights in these states, who may experience more equitable but reduced availability.
• Federal Agencies: The Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation, responsible for implementing and monitoring compliance.
• Environmental Groups: Organizations concerned with river ecosystem health, as altered allocations could impact wildlife and habitat conservation efforts.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: This could reduce litigation over water rights by standardizing shortage responses, but it might challenge "present perfected rights" under prior laws or the 1922 Colorado River Compact (a multi-state agreement), potentially leading to court disputes if states argue it infringes on vested interests.
• Constitutional: No direct constitutional issues are raised, but it aligns with federal authority over interstate waters under the Commerce Clause; however, it may test state sovereignty in water management.
• Political: The bill promotes equity among arid Western states amid climate-driven shortages, but could spark debates in Congress over federal intervention in regional resource disputes, especially given the river's role in interstate and international compacts. It was introduced by Rep. Schweikert (R-AZ) and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources for further review.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1]

Recent Actions

• 2026-01-14: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
• 2026-01-14: Introduced in House
• 2026-01-14: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• 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. — issued 2026-01-14 — PDF (2 pages)