Congressman Juan Ciscomani of Arizona’s 6th District has announced the relaunch of the Colorado River Caucus, which he will co-chair with Congressman Joe Neguse of Colorado’s 2nd District. The bipartisan group aims to improve cooperation among the seven Western states affected by the declining water levels in the Colorado River.
Ciscomani has made it a priority to protect water rights for Arizona’s agricultural sector and families who depend on the river. Both Arizona and Colorado are experiencing significant population growth, increasing demand on a river that also supports major agriculture and tourism industries.
The caucus seeks to promote a unified approach to conservation across all seven states—Arizona, Colorado, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah. The Colorado River supplies water to over 40 million people and underpins a $15 billion agricultural industry in these states.
Ciscomani previously served as co-chair when the caucus was first launched during the 118th Congress.
“The Colorado River is the beating heart of the American Southwest,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “Millions of people in Arizona and six other states depend on it as a source of water for our homes and businesses, our farms and ranches – our way of life. The Colorado River Caucus will help us understand and manage this precious resource as we deal with the impacts of a record-breaking drought that has lasted more than two decades. Collaboration is key and that’s the goal of this bipartisan caucus.”
Karen Cesare, CAWCD Board Secretary representing Pima County, commented: “The Colorado River has been and continues to be one of the most vital issues for the State of Arizona. Since the days of Senator Carl Hayden and Representative John Rhodes, our state has always had leaders in Congress that work on this important issue. I am very happy that Representative Ciscomani is returning as co-chair of the Colorado River Caucus and is continuing this legacy of leadership.”
Kevin Moran, Associate Vice President at Environmental Defense Fund, stated: “EDF is encouraged to see the bipartisan re-launch of the Colorado River Caucus and looks forward to the caucus bringing new thinking and additional resources to the water scarcity crisis in the Colorado River Basin. This is a critical juncture for the basin as reservoir levels continue to plummet and the river’s operating guidelines expire soon. Whether it’s water in the Colorado River or underground, all stakeholders must work together to more holistically and proactively manage this vital resource.”
Joel Pedersen, CEO and president of Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership added: “The Colorado River is more than a lifeline for millions – it fuels hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation across the West and sustains the lands and wildlife that support our sporting traditions. We applaud the formation of the Colorado River Caucus as the start of bold, bipartisan action to support one of America’s most iconic rivers and thank Representatives Joe Neguse and Juan Ciscomani for their leadership in launching this important effort.”
Dr. Sara Porterfield from Trout Unlimited noted: “The Colorado River is a lifeline for the West. Farmers and ranchers, rural and urban communities, Tribal Nations, outdoor recreationists, and fish and wildlife all rely on the health of the watershed at this critical time. The Colorado is already over-allocated and facing increasing pressure from extreme heat, drought, and wildfires, and Trout Unlimited applauds the bipartisan Colorado River Caucus led by U.S. Representatives Juan Ciscomani and Joe Neguse to address these issues. We are committed to working with caucus members to identify and implement durable solutions and proactively mitigate conflicts over water scarcity, help agricultural producers, and make our public lands and waters better able to withstand the impacts of extreme weather events.”
Juan Ciscomani currently represents Arizona’s 6th district in Congress after replacing Ann Kirkpatrick in 2023.
In recent elections, Ciscomani defeated Kirsten Engel twice: first in 2022 with just over half (50.7%) of votes compared to Engel’s 49.2%, then again in 2024 by winning 50% against Engel’s 47.5%.
