- Businesses are asking Congress for at least $2 billion in new Colorado River funding.
- The money would support drought response, conservation and water supply reliability.
- The letter links reliable water supplies to farming, energy, jobs and economic growth.
- Chambers of commerce and businesses from across the Colorado River Basin signed the request.
- The group also called for continued funding through a multi-year federal program.
Saturday, September 20, 2026 — Businesses across the Colorado River Basin are asking Congress to put at least $2 billion in new federal money toward drought response and long-term water security.
In a letter to congressional leaders
, businesses and business organizations from across the Basin said reliable Colorado River water matters not only to communities and farms, but also to the region’s broader economy.
The letter describes a $3.8 trillion Colorado River economy and calls for federal investment to help address growing water supply challenges.
A Call for at Least $2 Billion.
The businesses asked Congress to provide at least $2 billion in new federal funding for near-term drought mitigation. They also requested continued funding for a multi-year program.
The group said the additional money could build on work the Bureau of Reclamation is already doing.
According to the letter, additional federal resources are needed to “stabilize the system, reduce near-term risks and scale effective solutions” across the Basin.
The businesses did not call for one single solution. Instead, they proposed investing in a variety of approaches.
Those could include water conservation and efficiency projects, carefully targeted efforts to increase available water supplies, and other measures intended to improve long-term reliability.
Forests and Watersheds Are Part of the Request.
The funding request goes beyond traditional water infrastructure.
The businesses also called for investment in engineered systems and natural systems, including forests, watersheds, rivers and floodplains.
According to the letter, healthy natural systems can help protect water sources, reduce wildfire risks and improve the ability to reliably deliver water to cities, farms, communities, businesses and industries.
The group also asked for businesses, water users and regional stakeholders to have opportunities to participate as federal programs are developed.
Businesses Tie Water to the Western Economy.
Much of the letter focuses on the economic importance of a dependable Colorado River.
“Reliable water supplies are not simply an environmental or infrastructure issue,” the businesses wrote. They described reliable water as necessary for economic growth, business investment, workforce stability, food production and energy security throughout the West.
The group said a federal funding framework could also encourage additional public and private investment.
The businesses said meeting the need for greater water efficiency and innovation will require partnerships between the federal government and the business community, along with predictable funding and long-term policies.
Support Comes From Across the Basin,
The letter was signed by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and individual businesses from Colorado River Basin states.
Arizona signers included chambers representing Phoenix, Flagstaff, Kingman, Lake Havasu, Parker, Yuma and Bullhead City, along with statewide business and economic development organizations.
The list also included the Blythe, Imperial Valley Regional and Needles chambers of commerce in California. Colorado signers included the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, Steamboat Springs Chamber of Commerce, Vail Valley Partnership and Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp.
Other signers included the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and New Mexico Economic Development Department in New Mexico; the Henderson, Las Vegas and Laughlin chambers of commerce in Nevada; and several organizations from the Flaming Gorge area of Utah. Buckboard Marina at Flaming Gorge signed from Wyoming.
Together, the signers include business interests from both the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basin.
The letter was addressed to the leaders of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. Members of the Colorado River congressional delegation were also copied.
“We are committed to being part of the solution,” the businesses wrote.
The letter closed by saying the signers were prepared to work with federal leaders to strengthen both economic and water security throughout the Colorado River Basin.
