Work together on water
Teditorial board’s focus on Arizona’s water future should serve as a wake-up call and call to action for our state’s leaders and water-management professionals (The New Arizona: Water, Viewpoints, Nov. 3). It gave the general public a view of water-resource issues and the importance of water to our state’s economic future.
To those in the water community, the issues come as no surprise.
Well before the federal Bureau of Reclamation’s “Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study” and Arizona’s Water Resources Development Commission’s October 2011 final report, there were signs of a changing waterresource environment in the Colorado River Basin and Arizona. To its credit, the leadership of the Arizona Department of Water Resources is developing a statewide strategic plan to identify future water-supply demands and possible solutions.
Recognizing the problem is only the first step in securing our future water supplies and protecting what remains in our state’s rivers, streams and groundwater springs. The real challenge will come when the state Legislature is asked for the necessary funding for groundwater monitoring, scientific studies, changes in the groundwater code, protection of our surface waters and im- TOM O’HALLERAN plementation of infrastructure projects. Will the challenge be met?
New Arizona project identified 20 steps that should be explored to address water-resource issues. Each step requires a commitment by our state’s elected leaders that to date has not been forthcoming. The cost to our economy, water users and taxpayers only increases if solutions are not identified, analyzed and implemented.
While the NewArizona water package expressed concern for our state’s “threatened river systems” and included a comment from water expert Robert Glennon about protecting the groundwater supplies of rural Arizona, the fact is surface waters and groundwaters in rural Arizona are at risk. Arizona’s rivers and streams are dependent on groundwater for their survival. But Arizona statute does not recognize this basic scientific fact. Therefore, Arizona’s remaining rivers and creeks are at risk because of excessive groundwater pumping.
ADWR and state leaders have a responsibility to all Arizonans, both urban and rural dwellers. We need to resolve our water-supply issues through an inclusionary and transparent process. We should seek solutions we can deliver.
We should start with a complete review by ADWR to identify what the department needs to meet Arizona’s many waterresource challenges. Also, the Arizona Water Resources Development Commission’s report indicated there are many gaps in information. Money is needed to fill those gaps. The commission’s work should continue either as a commission or as part of ADWR’s strategic plan process.
The Legislature must begin to treat water for what it is. These fundamental facts cannot be ignored:
» Water is one of Arizona’s great natural resources and must be preserved.
» Water is as valuable to our economic well being as investment capital.
» At one time, the West thought water followed money — in the new West, money will follow water.
» People will only invest in Arizona if we have a cost-effective and protected water supply.
» Surface water is vital to the tourism industry, especially in rural areas of the state.
Like America, Arizona works best when we all work together.