Gosar Invites Interior Secretary Burgum to Arizona: “Water Is Life for Arizonans”

Goodyear, AZ - Congressman Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), today invited Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to Arizona for a flyover tour of the Colorado River system and the communities, farms, mines, Tribal lands, and infrastructure affected by the federal government's proposed water reductions.

In a follow-up letter to Secretary Burgum, Gosar expressed concern over the secretary's recent characterization of Arizona's impending water cuts as "completely manageable" during an interview with KOLD News 13, emphasizing the importance of evaluating these reductions in the context of their real-world consequences for Arizona's communities and economy.

"Respectfully, what may look manageable in a Washington briefing room looks very different on the ground in Arizona," said Congressman Gosar. "Arizona has conserved water, invested in infrastructure, and done its part. We cannot continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of the burden while other states are spared mandatory cuts. Arizona deserves fair treatment."

Under the current federal framework, Arizona faces a reduction of 760,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water over the next two years-roughly one-quarter of its allocation. California faces a reduction of 440,000 acre-feet, Nevada faces 50,000 acre-feet, and the four Upper Basin states face no mandatory reductions under the framework.

"Water is life for Arizonans," Gosar said. "It sustains our families, farms, communities, mines, military installations, and industries essential to our economic and national security. These decisions have real consequences, and we must ensure Arizona's concerns are fully understood and fairly addressed."

Gosar also emphasized the importance of protecting Arizona's Tribal Nations and ensuring their concerns are fully addressed in negotiations over the Colorado River's future.

"Tribal Nations are sovereign nations with water rights, communities, and futures at stake," Gosar said. "Their concerns must be meaningfully addressed-not overlooked or treated as an afterthought in decisions that will affect generations to come."

Gosar's invitation builds on his September 29 letter to Secretary Burgum, in which he urged the Department of the Interior to ensure Arizona receives fair treatment under the new federal operating framework.

During the proposed flyover, Gosar hopes to show the secretary firsthand the challenges facing Arizona's water delivery systems and the communities and industries that depend on them, while discussing practical solutions to strengthen the state's long-term water security.

Gosar has long advocated for solutions that go beyond conservation alone, including desalination, advanced water treatment, aquifer recharge, water storage, and conveyance infrastructure.

"My goal is to work with the administration to find practical, lasting solutions that protect Arizona's water security, respect Tribal sovereignty, and strengthen the future of the American West. I look forward to welcoming Secretary Burgum to Arizona and working toward a fair framework that recognizes the realities on the ground," concluded Congressman Gosar.