AG UNDER THREAT

THE WESTERN U.S. has been in a drought for more than 20 years, and as the water levels in the Colorado River decline, the U.S. government is cutting water supplies to users. So far, Yuma has not been impacted by the cuts because of its high priority water rights, but that could change. “Yuma has very high priority water rights, meaning other places would have to cut in shortage before Yuma would, but we are also at the bottom of the river and so water would have to get down here,” Brierley noted.

As the water levels continue to decline, cutbacks will become necessary, no matter the water rights. “That’s the threat right now. How do you have that much of a cutback and not have everybody participate somehow even though we have really high priority water rights? Of course, the cities look to agriculture and say, oh, there’s a place where we can get water,” Brierley said.

Water cutbacks need to happen, but users cannot agree on a plan. Thus, Yuma ag finds itself in the middle of a water fight involving legal and political battles.