This is really about political will," she said.
McNeill urged public involvement to push state representatives toward a formal water-sharing pact.
>>> Extreme Heat Waves and High Humidity Threaten Southern US States
Municipalities across Arizona, California, and New Mexico are expanding conservation initiatives, including wastewater recycling, desalination, and outdoor watering limits.
Kathryn Sorensen, research director for the Kyl Center for Water Policy, noted that cities are stepping up independently.
"At the end of the day, cities have the responsibility to ensure reliable, safe tap water supplies," she said.
Sorensen emphasized that farming accounts for the vast majority of river diversions. "We can't solve this problem without the participation of agriculture," she said.
"The scale is too big to solve it on the backs of cities alone."
Dave Owen, associate dean at the University of California College of Law, San Francisco, suggested efficiency improvements could keep allocations sustainable.
"The reality is there probably is enough water in the Colorado River to go around, if we are smart about how we use that water," he said.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego advocated for city conservation efforts and equitable distribution cuts.
"We would love to see a collaborative agreement where all users on the river reduce their use," she said.
She added that Central Arizona's economic contributions should be considered in federal policy.
Tucson Water Director John Kmiec detailed local underground storage reserves built to cushion supply cuts.
"We have more than six years of banking on the ground in the Tucson area that are ready to help buffer any changes or any shortages," he said.
