PAGE – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) visited Page, Arizona to meet with local leaders and discuss pressing issues affecting Northern Arizona, including wildfire prevention and recovery, tourism, and Colorado River water.
“Rural communities like Page play a vital role in Arizona’s economy,” said Senator Gallego. “Whether it’s securing federal resources to help them recover from devastating wildfires or working for a fair deal on the Colorado River, I’m proud to always fight for Northern Arizona in the Senate.”
Senator Gallego started his Northern Arizona visit by meeting with members of the Page City Council.
At the meeting, he discussed his work to support Northern Arizona’s tourism economy, including introducing the North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act to expedite cleanup and restoration efforts following last year’s devastating Dragon Bravo and White Sage Fires.
He then visited the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, where he toured Glen Canyon Dam and discussed Colorado River water management and current issues facing Lake Powell with the Acting Superintendent.
In addition to being a vital source of water storage on the Colorado River, the Glen Canyon Dam produces around five billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power annually, providing electricity for millions of Americans across the West.
In the face of historic drought conditions, Senator Gallego has pushed to ensure Arizona gets its fair share of Colorado River water. In a recent Senate hearing, he questioned Department of the Interior (DOI) officials on the looming post-2026 operational guidelines for the Colorado River, urged the administration to fully incorporate the near-term conservation proposal submitted by the Lower Basin states, including Arizona, and demanded transparency on when the final federal alternative will be made public.