A federal investigation into the San Carlos Irrigation Project was announced at the Coolidge City Council meeting on November 10, 2025. McKya Lamb, field representative for U.S. Representative Eli Crane, delivered the update during the meeting’s call to the public.
Congressman Crane recently sent a letter to the Department of Interior requesting a formal investigation into SCIP by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The department replied last week confirming they will launch the investigation. Lamb hopes the findings will help clarify what is needed to replace SCIP before Congress considers divestiture.
Divestiture Blocked by Missing Information
Lamb emphasized that divestiture remains the preferred solution. “At the end of the day, we think divestiture is absolutely the best option,” she said. The legislative process itself is straightforward. However, Congress cannot act without critical information.
Public utilities have been working on a plan to take over SCIP and transition customers to local control. Yet the path forward requires specific details about infrastructure needs and costs.
“Before we can move forward with that on a legislative level, there does need to be a viable and reliable solution that will replace SCIP, and no one’s really been able to come up with that,” Lamb explained. The Bureau of Indian Affairs has been vague about funding requirements in studies examining the issue. This has left officials without clarity on what needs to go into a replacement system.
Lamb said the investigation will hopefully help clarify things and give the public the information needed to develop a viable alternative.
Mayor Jon Thomson acknowledged that Congress typically moves slowly but expressed appreciation for the federal review. The investigation timeline remains unclear. Lamb hopes that once complete, the findings will provide the information needed to create a viable replacement for SCIP. Congress can then proceed with legislative divestiture and the transition to a new power provider.
