Lawmakers say water cuts threaten national security, food supply - E&E News by POLITICO

Arizona congressional Democrats are demanding the Trump administration rewrite its short-term operating plan for the Colorado River Basin, warning that cutting the state’s water supply could harm the nation’s security and food supplies.

In a Monday letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Andrea Travnicek, assistant secretary for water and science, the state’s Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill slammed potential short-term plans for the Colorado River.

The proposals, outlined in a draft environmental impact statement published in January, could cut up to 98 percent of Colorado River flows to Arizona, according to state officials.

“Simply put, none of the proposed alternatives are viable for Arizona’s continued water security,” wrote Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, and Reps. Greg Stanton, Yassamin Ansari and Adelita Grijalva.