Seeing little indication that states in the Colorado River headwaters will accept or impose new cuts on their water users, Arizona has hired a law firm to defend its water rights at trial or before the U.S. Supreme Court, Gov. Katie Hobbs’s office announced. The hiring allows Arizona to prepare for a legal fight, though it has not yet initiated one. That decision would come after the U.S. Department of Interior this summer adopts new guidelines for sharing the burden of a shrinking river that has struggled to maintain adequate reservoir storage for existing uses in Arizona, California and Nevada. Absent a seven-state deal that has so far eluded negotiators, the new guidelines appear likely to hit Arizona hardest.

Related articles:

• KJZZ (Phoenix): Arizona water department secures law firm for potential Colorado River legal fights
• AZPM News (Tucson): Arizona ‘lawyers-up’ over Colorado River negotiations
• Arizona Mirror (Tucson): Arizona hires high-powered law firm, setting the stage for a legal battle over Colorado River water
• Arizona Daily Star (Tucson): Arizona governor hires high-powered law firm for Colorado River fight