- Central Arizona Project filed a motion on October 27 to join an existing federal lawsuit.
- The dispute concerns Colorado River operating decisions issued on August 21, 2026.
- The project argues that those decisions violate the Colorado River Compact.
- Talks with California and Nevada remain focused on water certainty through 2028.
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 — Central Arizona Project is asking to join a court fight over federal decisions governing Colorado River operations.
On October 27, 2026, the Project filed a motion in federal district court in Nevada
seeking to intervene in ongoing litigation against the Department of the Interior. Intervention is a request to join an existing lawsuit.
The Project says it needs a role in the case to defend its interests and ensure that any resolution addresses its concerns.
The dispute over river operations.
The challenge concerns the Department of the Interior’s Record of Decision and Operating Guidelines issued on August 21, 2026. Those documents set out the federal decisions and rules at issue.
Central Arizona Project argues that the decisions violate the Colorado River Compact and allow what it describes as an existing breach of the compact to continue. Its request to join the lawsuit seeks to prevent those operating decisions from being implemented.
These are the Project’s legal claims. The October 27 release does not report a court ruling on those claims or a decision granting its request to intervene.
Negotiations continue alongside the court fight.
Brenda Burman, the Project’s general manager, said court action is necessary to challenge the federal government’s approach.
“The actions by the federal government disregard the Colorado River Compact and other laws governing the Colorado River,” Burman said.
At the same time, the Project remains in talks with California and Nevada.
“While our journey through the judicial process has just begun, we remain focused on finalizing an agreement with our partners in California and Nevada to provide water certainty through 2028,” Burman said.
