New Poll: 75% of Arizona Voters Demand Action on Colorado River Water Security

PHOENIX, AZ  – With Arizona lawmakers and the Governor negotiating the state funds for the following fiscal 12 months, a brand new statewide ballot delivers an unambiguous sign from voters: fund water safety for the Colorado River now.  Arizona voters overwhelmingly help making a Colorado River Safety Fund by a margin of greater than 10-to-1 (75% help, simply 7% oppose). When requested what they need their legislators to deal with most, “water and Colorado River safety” ranked first, forward of inflation, border safety, taxes, and training.

The ballot, performed by Cygnal – a conservative polling agency just lately ranked because the nation’s most correct non-public polling agency – finds that water provide and Colorado River safety is the highest legislative precedence for Arizona voters (50%), surpassing different top-of-mind points together with inflation (47%), border safety (30%), taxes (29%), and training (26%). This concern cuts throughout celebration traces: water ranks first amongst Democrats and Independents, and second amongst Republicans, behind solely border safety.

 Overwhelming Bipartisan Assist for Instant State Funding

 The ballot finds broad, sturdy help throughout celebration traces for lawmakers to fund water safety now – and clear voter expectations:

• Water is Arizona’s prime legislative precedence. 94% of probably voters say the legislature ought to make water safety a funds precedence this session.  
• Voters need motion now, not later. When compelled to decide on, 69% say water safety requires instant state funding even when it means funds tradeoffs, in comparison with simply 21% who say different priorities ought to come first.  
• Assist is bipartisan and broad. 84% of Democrats, 77% of Independents, and 66% of Republicans favor state funding particularly to handle Colorado River provide challenges.  
• Voters anticipate motion. 90% say it is necessary that their legislators prioritize Colorado River motion on this state funds. 67% say they might view their legislator extra favorably for supporting the fund — versus simply 9% unfavorably.

 These survey outcomes land as Arizona lawmakers proceed to barter a state funds with solely weeks left within the legislative session.

 What Arizona Leaders Are Saying:

 A wide selection of organizations are highlighting the outcomes of the ballot, together with Agribusiness and Water Council of Arizona, Arizona Municipal Water Customers Affiliation, Arizona Wildlife Federation, Audubon Southwest, Enterprise for Water Stewardship, Freeport-McMoRan, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and Valley Partnership.

“These distinctive polling outcomes are about as clear a mandate from voters as you may get,” mentioned Haley Paul, Senior Director for Coverage at Audubon Southwest. “Arizonans from each political stripe are sending a transparent sign to the state Capitol: Arizona water safety have to be a defining situation of this funds. Voters anticipate state lawmakers to behave now to safe state funding to guard the Colorado River and assist stabilize the system within the wake of this dry winter.”

 “Wholesome watersheds end in dependable water provides,” mentioned Jackie Corbin, Arizona Subject Consultant for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “Given the quickly declining water ranges all through the Colorado River Basin, it’s crucial that state leaders take motion to make sure short- and long-term water availability. Allocating state funds to safe Arizona’s water future by investing in Colorado River infrastructure and restoration efforts is an important step towards defending Arizona’s pure heritage, together with the fish and wildlife hunters and anglers deeply worth.”

 “Strategically managing Arizona’s Colorado River and groundwater provides is important to Arizona’s rising inhabitants and economic system,” mentioned Clark Princell, President and CEO of Valley Partnership. “As a state, we should acknowledge the vital linkages between assembly present and future water wants for housing and financial progress. To try this, we’d like dependable water provides.”  

 “Arizona is a nationwide chief within the manufacturing of vital metals and minerals important to our nation’s economic system and nationwide safety,” mentioned Sandy Fabritz, Director of Water Technique for Freeport-McMoRan. “Dependable entry to Colorado River water provides is important to continued manufacturing of those assets and the mining sector’s function in creating high-paying jobs and supporting native communities.”

 “Failure to stabilize the Colorado River system dangers our state’s water safety and continued financial prosperity,” mentioned Warren Tenney, Govt Director of the Arizona Municipal Water Customers Affiliation. “This ballot highlights the significance of Arizona investing in conservation measures, strengthening the reliability of our present water provides, and pursuing new water provides to make sure our communities and state thrive for generations.”  

 “The Colorado River is a lifeline for Arizona agriculture,” mentioned Stephanie Knight-Dubien, Govt Director of the Agribusiness and Water Council of Arizona. “Arizona farmers and ranchers are working onerous to exhibit that we are able to proceed to supply a considerable portion of the nation’s general meals provide with water-saving applied sciences. However Arizona farmers and ranchers want extra assets to make sure that our rural communities proceed to thrive within the face of drought and diminished Colorado River water provides.”

 “Arizona’s financial progress—our means to construct properties, entice companies, and hold the lights on—runs by the Colorado River,” mentioned Harold Thomas, Affiliate Director, Enterprise for Water Stewardship. “This ballot makes clear that voters anticipate the Arizona Legislature to spend money on defending this very important useful resource. Arizona-led options that assist shield our water provide earlier than the disaster worsens deserve severe consideration.”  

 “In a state the place water is so treasured, elected leaders should prioritize safety and restoration of our watersheds for the advantage of each Arizonans and wildlife,” mentioned Christian Fauser, Public Lands Coordinator for the Arizona Wildlife Federation. “Arizona’s looking and angling group gives our sturdy help for securing funding on this 12 months’s funds to make sure our state’s watersheds proceed to offer important water provides in addition to help our wealthy heritage of looking and fishing.”  

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Concerning the Survey

The probabilistic survey was performed by Cygnal between April 23-25, 2026, amongst a consultant pattern of probably Arizona normal election voters. It has a margin of error of ±4.00%. Identified registered voters have been interviewed by way of on-line panel and SMS. This survey was weighted to a possible normal election voter universe. Cygnal has been acknowledged by the New York Instances and Silver Bulletin because the #1 most correct non-public pollster within the nation. The ballot was commissioned and paid for by Audubon Southwest. 

Arizona Statewide Water Survey Polling Memo

Arizona Statewide Water Survey Polling Results

About Audubon

The Nationwide Audubon Society protects birds and the locations they want, at present and tomorrow. Integrated in 1905, the Nationwide Audubon Society is without doubt one of the oldest and best fowl conservation organizations within the Western Hemisphere. Audubon works all through the Americas utilizing science, advocacy, training and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon Southwest is the regional workplace of the Nationwide Audubon Society masking Arizona and New Mexico. Study extra at audubon.org/southwest  

Media Contact: 
Ashley Meadows
ashley.meadows@audubon.org
303-746-4165