After decades of finger-pointing and failed negotiations over the rights and distribution of the Colorado River, the future of the West stands at a crossroads. The stalemate over water scarcity among seven western states threatens America’s economy and national security. It’s the kind of stalemate that only a grand deal and a major investment can break through to save our region.
With the Colorado River under strain and time running out, America needs a visionary, a builder, and a deal-maker. Thankfully, we have all three of those in President Donald Trump.
For over half a century, the construction of large dams and canals was the mark of a truly great president. Beginning with President Theodore Roosevelt, the first major water reclamation project in the West — the Roosevelt Dam — was authorized to provide Arizona with water that expanded our country’s agricultural, industrial, and military base.
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That achievement proved Washington could turn big ideas into reality. Following Roosevelt, nearly every U.S. president across the political spectrum championed large-scale water infrastructure projects in the West, building the dams, canals, and reservoirs that allowed western states to grow. In fact, the West would not be what it is today had it not been for great presidents building great water infrastructure.
President Calvin Coolidge authorized the Hoover Dam and All-American Canal; President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved the Colorado-Big Thompson Project; President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized the Glen Canyon Dam, Central Utah Project, and initial storage units in the Upper Basin; President Lyndon B. Johnson authorized the Central Arizona Project; and President John F. Kennedy authorized the San Juan-Chama Project.
Our nation’s greatest modern presidents have left their mark through building major water infrastructure projects, and the time is right for the next wave of investment to begin. Americans want their leaders to put America first, refocusing federal spending at home.
By building something big and meaningful, Trump could save the West and leave a lasting legacy for the next 250 years in America. Trump could “Make American Water Great Again.”
Few political figures have had Trump’s instinct for sensing when a looming issue is about to explode into a defining national moment — spotting opportunities before others see them and acting decisively when others freeze. That instinct, combined with his willingness to act, has led some to speculate that Trump may already be eyeing a major water play in the West. Trump also understands the value of strategic federal assets — such as the Panama Canal — which advance the nation’s interests on a grand scale.
As a builder, constructing a new water resource would fit perfectly with Trump’s identity. A new dam or canal would be the crown jewel of his U.S. portfolio, a monumental project built not for private business but for the American people, turning big ideas into physical steel, concrete, and — most importantly — water that can sustain America for generations.
And he wouldn’t have to start from scratch. Long-shelved proposals — intended to be built but killed by environmental activists — still loom in the background. Big projects such as the Marble Canyon Dam in Arizona, the Echo Park Dam in Colorado, and Temperance Flat Dam in California — assumed to be dead — could be revived at any time. Trump would have the opportunity to succeed where others have failed.
At the same time, numerous new projects have been proposed that could increase water supplies in the West. Large-scale desalination projects, interstate water pipelines, storage facilities, reservoirs, and advanced water reuse systems have all been proposed and are ready to go. Arizona has taken the lead on developing these projects, but multiple western states would benefit from them if any were constructed. With Trump’s support and blessing, these projects could move from hope to a real revitalization of American infrastructure.
Building any one of these would make a difference. Building all of them would define an era. All Trump would need to do is pick one, announce it, and build — instantly taking credit and moving us closer to saving the Colorado River for our nation’s economy and national security. Perhaps one could even be named after him: the Donald J. Trump Imperial Dam.
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Such a project would not only grant the president unprecedented negotiating power in the West but also provide thousands of blue-collar jobs that would help to reinvigorate America’s working class. Over 21,000 workers were employed during the construction of Hoover Dam, which created critical jobs at a time when many felt uncertain about the economy.
America remembers its greatest presidents because of what they built — big, bold projects constructed at a scale worthy of a great nation. Trump can do the same. If Trump wants to build a lasting legacy, the path forward is clear: solve the Colorado River crisis by building big, bringing new water resources to the West, and increasing the supply for everyone.
Arizona state Rep. Gail Griffin (R) chairs the Arizona House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee and has been a leading voice on water and resource policy in the Southwest.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) has long advocated policies that strengthen the economy, protect American resources, and support the future of the West.
