Arizona is gearing up for a potential legal showdown to safeguard its water rights amid growing tensions over the Colorado River's dwindling supply.

Arizona is hoping for consensus but preparing for a possible legal battle as it negotiates a new multistate agreement over how Colorado River water is allocated in the event additional cuts are needed.

The committee also voted in support of two bills that would allow groundwater pumping regulations in protected areas to be lifted in groundwater basins recovered to previous levels.

The result is that the federal Colorado Basin River Forecast Center is now predicting that April through July flows into Powell will be only 76% of normal. That's down from 81% at the beginning of 2025.

The Interior Department will consider five options as it works to develop a new framework to govern Colorado River water cuts after current guidelines expire in 2026, according to a new report released by the agency.

An executive order from President Donald Trump paused spending from the Inflation Reduction Act. That’s left some Colorado River water users waiting to hear if they’ll get the millions of dollars they’re expecting.

More than $24 million has been awarded to Arizona Game and Fish by the USDA in an effort to sustain tens of thousands of acres of land for Arizona wildlife and communities. This project would serve part of the Colorado River,

The Arizona Game and Fish Department received a $24.5 million award to be used for restoration efforts within the Colorado River Basin.

Arizona receives $257.6 million for water conservation, backed by Senators Kelly and Gallego, to improve its water infrastructure and secure resources.

The missive, led by Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly and Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee, the new chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, continued: “We recognize that negotiating any agreement in the Colorado River Basin is a difficult task, and appreciate all of the work that you have done and will do.”

The Biden administration claimed a victory on Friday, saying it had "successfully staved off a crisis in the Colorado River Basin in the short term and set it up for success in the years ahead."

Learn more about the latest Phoenix area weather forecast and conditions with Most Accurate Forecast from ABC15.