A United Front Coalition for Protecting Arizona’s Lifeline - Water Future
Southern Arizona (September 26, 2025) -- Over twenty Arizona mayors — including Joe Winfield of Oro Valley, Jon Post of Marana, and Regina Romero of Tucson — have joined forces to protect Arizona’s allocation of Colorado River water through the Central Arizona Project (CAP). Together, they’ve launched the Coalition for Protecting Arizona’s Lifeline, a nonpartisan alliance “expressing a unified commitment to protecting the future of the Colorado River,” according to CAP.
A Pivotal Moment
“The Coalition comes at a pivotal time, as the Colorado River is threatened by prolonged drought, overallocation and ongoing regional tensions,” CAP said in a release. “The Colorado River is the lifeline of Arizona’s economy, agriculture, tribal communities and way of life.”
CAP delivers water via a 336-mile aqueduct to Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties. It supplies millions of Arizonans and is critical for cities such as Tucson, Oro Valley, and Marana. The basin is in Tier 1 drought status, resulting in a 512,000-acre-foot reduction to the CAP, with further cuts likely.
By the Numbers: CAP Deliveries to Southern Arizona
- Tucson: 144,191 acre-feet annually
- Oro Valley: 10,305 acre-feet annually
- Marana: 2,336 acre-feet annually
Together, these allocations represent Southern Arizona’s share of the 336-mile Central Arizona Project, the state’s largest water delivery system, supplying millions of residents across Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties.
Voices from Southern Arizona
Mayor Joe Winfield of Oro Valley emphasized the stakes:
“The town relies on the Colorado River and the CAP to supply the water that sustains our community. It is essential to our families, our economy and our future.”
He added that Oro Valley is “doing our part to protect and stretch every drop” through reclaimed water use, conservation tools and full use of its CAP allocation. “By working together, we can safeguard the Colorado River and ensure a secure water future for Oro Valley and all of Arizona.”
Mayor Jon Post of Marana highlighted the link between CAP and local prosperity:
“Marana is a town built on resilience, innovation and a deep-rooted commitment to community. CAP has been vital to our growth and prosperity. Now, we have a duty to help protect it.”
Mayor Regina Romero of Tucson warned of broader consequences:
“Any dramatic reduction or reallocation of Colorado River water that CAP delivers to its users would have significant negative implications for our total quality of life, economy and the security of our country. We want to make it clear through this coalition and our collaboration that water security is not a partisan issue. It is a shared Arizona priority that transcends political lines and regional divisions.”
Broader Support and Urgency
Brenda Burman, CAP’s general manager, praised the coalition:
“The coalition represents many diverse desert communities that have one thing in common — they are water-smart. These cities have shown it’s possible to conserve water while fostering resilient economies.”
Terry Goddard, president of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board, cautioned during a recent panel:
“Everybody within the two basins is at each other’s throats. States must work through their differences, or the federal government will step in and impose a solution, or we’ll have to go to court.”
He added: “Central Arizona’s share of the Colorado River is foundational to our water planning, land use decisions, economic security and national defense. We thank these mayors for coming together … to advocate for our water future.”
Looking Ahead
With Colorado River flows in crisis and interstate tensions rising, Arizona’s mayors are raising their collective voice to ensure the state’s CAP allocations remain secure. The coalition’s formation highlights an important truth: while Arizona’s cities may differ in size, politics and geography, they are united by a shared dependence on the river.
As Mayor Kevin Sartor of Surprise put it:
“Together, our voices are stronger, our message is clearer and our commitment is unwavering.”