VRBP 2010

Presentation to the Cornville AssociationJanuary 13, 2010 : 

Presentation to the Cornville AssociationJanuary 13, 2010 www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 1 © Copyright Verde River Basin Partnership January 11, 2010

Why is there a Partnership? : 

Why is there a Partnership? “ The extensive groundwater demand that threatens the Verde River is of great concern to me and many others.” “Verde River Basin communities are challenged with the crucial task of managing a shared but limited water supply in the face of prolonged drought and rapid population growth.” ~ Senator John McCain www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 2

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What is the Verde River Basin Partnership? : 

What is the Verde River Basin Partnership? It is a collaborative partnership enabled by Federal legislation. The legislation states, in part, it is "...collaborative and science-based water resource planning and management partnership for the Verde River Basin in the State of Arizona, consisting of members that represent  (1) Federal, State, and local agencies; and  (2) economic, environmental, and community water interests in the Verde River Basin. " www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 4

What is the Verde River Basin Partnership? : 

What is the Verde River Basin Partnership? This partnership was authorized in Title II of the Northern Arizona Land Exchange and Verde River Basin Partnership Act of 2005. Also referred to as S.161 – it was introduced by Senator John McCain. That legislation, Public Law No. 109-110, was signed into law by President Bush on November 11, 2005. www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 5

Watershed Area : 

Watershed Area The Verde basin covers parts of Yavapai, Coconino, Gila and Maricopa Counties. Included are the headwaters of the Verde River, Big Chino, Little Chino, Williamson, and Verde Valleys, the East Verde River, the incorporated communities of Prescott, Chino Valley, Jerome, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, and portions of Prescott Valley and Payson. The Verde River basin covers approximately 5,500 square miles and extends south to the confluence of the Verde and Salt Rivers. www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 6

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Reasons For Studies : 

Reasons For Studies Allow elected officials to keep their promises of water resource protection and sustainable surface and groundwater management   Support well-founded science-based decisions in the face of burgeoning population and expectation of warmer and drier climate   Development of best management practices for current and future generations www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 8

Reasons For Studies : 

Reasons For Studies Optimize the information that water managers need for their decisions affecting long-term sustainability of the Verde River Basin’s water resources Identification of long-term sustainable water management options Understanding of the interconnections and limitations of the groundwater and surface water in the basin www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 9

East Verde River, Page Springs, Oak Creek : 

East Verde River, Page Springs, Oak Creek 10

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Is There a Problem? : 

Is There a Problem? “Will there be an overdraft situation in the Verde River Basin if we continue the way we are? YES.”   ADWR Director Herb Guenther Arizona Republic Article (12/2003)   “I think [the Verde River] is a state resource —a state treasure, if you will.”   ADWR Director Herb Guenther August 1, 2009, Daily Courier www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 12

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Eagle in Sycamore Canyon Some of the only Cottonwood and Willow nurseries in Arizona along the Verde River in Verde Canyon Fragile Fossil Creek Riparian Area and Habitat 13

What Does ADWR Have to Say? : 

What Does ADWR Have to Say? “ Drought/Rural Water Supply Even in the absence of drought, water supply conditions in the communities of rural Arizona are a serious problem. Growth rates are very high, with projected continued growth in many communities that do not have the water supplies or the financial resources to sustain it. There are inadequate mechanisms to ensure availability of water supplies to support growth in the rural areas of the State. In addition, increasing demands for groundwater will continue to impact important springs and surface water flows that support riparian and recreation areas.” -2008 ADWR Annual Report www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 14

ADWR Basin Issues : 

ADWR Basin Issues “Physical Availability: In other areas, notably in the Prescott AMA, shallower domestic wells run dry due to intensive groundwater pumping and drought conditions (many areas lack access to adequate groundwater supplies even in the absence of drought conditions). As further development takes place, the number of locations facing similar problems will increase. Over-allocation of existing supplies could also result in supply constraints and disruptions in areas that are not growing.” 2008 ADWR Annual Report www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 15

Is Sustainability Important? : 

Is Sustainability Important? “Identify criteria for assuring consistent and sustainable water availability and quality as conditions for development approvals.”   “The County’s rich natural resources, unrivaled recreation and outdoor opportunities, scenic vistas, clean air, forests, grasslands, healthy rivers and biodiversified riparian areas will be preserved through implementation of the Yavapai County General Plan goals.”   Yavapai County General Plan April 7, 2003 www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 16

Consider the Facts : 

Consider the Facts “A combination of human impacts and drought has caused extended decreases in Verde River base flow. The decrease is estimated at 380 acre-feet per year since 1993 at Paulden and since 1994 1,000 acre-feet per year at Clarkdale and 2,000 acre feet per year at Camp Verde.”   “ Only between one and two percent of the precipitation in the Big and Little Chino sub-basins recharges the aquifers, and about four percent of the precipitation within the Verde Valley sub-basin goes into aquifers.”    USGS- Hydrogeology of the Upper and Middle Verde; River Watersheds; Report 2005-5198 www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 17

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More Facts to Consider : 

More Facts to Consider “Groundwater declines in the Big and Little Chino valleys are attributed primarily to groundwater withdrawals.”    “Groundwater storage declines in the Verde Valley are caused almost entirely by groundwater pumping and reductions in natural channel recharge resulting from stream flow diversions.”   USGS- Hydrogeology of the Upper and Middle Verde; River Watersheds Report 2005-5198 www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 19

The Verde River and its Headwaters : 

The Verde River and its Headwaters www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 20

Prescott Active Management Area Third Management Plan’s Guiding-Principles : 

Prescott Active Management Area Third Management Plan’s Guiding-Principles “Water supplies available today must be used to meet the needs of the future.” “Water management programs should provide a stable institutional framework which creates an environment of certainty in water resource decision-making.”   “Water management programs should be based on the premise that future issues are unlikely to be the same as those we have encountered in the past, and that the pace of change is likely to increase.” www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 21

Prescott Active Management Area Third Management Plan’s Guiding-Principles : 

Prescott Active Management Area Third Management Plan’s Guiding-Principles “Effective and efficient water management must take a long-term perspective and be regional in scope.”   “All water sources need to be included in any long-term, comprehensive water management strategy.”   “Water users must have an integral role in management program development and implementation.” www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 22

Other Basin Issues : 

Other Basin Issues “In the Prescott AMA, current uses and commitments to serve new subdivisions will result in groundwater demands that are more than double the long-term sustainable supply of groundwater.”   “Riparian Habitat and Perennial Flow: There is currently no legal authority to regulate groundwater pumping adjacent to these areas.”   2008 ADWR Annual Report www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 23

IS THERE REALLY A VETO? : 

IS THERE REALLY A VETO? “Unfortunately, several key local governments have opted to shun the Partnership rather than pursue it as an opportunity for additional federal support with their neighbors.” “If northern Arizona communities continue to resist working together on a matter as critical as the very existence of the Verde River, then the potential of the Partnership may never become fully realized and it will become unfeasible to authorize any additional studies or seek additional funding on its behalf.” ~ Senator John McCain www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 24

Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition Website Purpose December 12, 2009 : 

Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition Website Purpose December 12, 2009 “Working together to protect the Upper Verde River, the Coalition is committed to balancing the reasonable water needs of residents of the Upper Verde River Watershed Area with protection of the base flow of the Upper Verde River to the maximum possible extent and achieving safe-yield with the Prescott Active Management Area (AMA) by developing BMP’s (best management practices) that incorporate science based planning, utilization and conservation of all water resources within the Upper Verde Watershed Area....” www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org Why Is There a Problem? 25

Why Is There a Problem? : 

Why Is There a Problem? “Historic uses of water and new demands for water may have created changes to the conditions of the water resources of the region. Water levels have declined in some local aquifers, pointing to a change in the water resource system.” “It is imperative that measures are taken to obtain a better understanding of the county’s water resources and to ensure the good health of our surface water and groundwater systems.” Situational Analysis December 12, 2009 Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 26

Red Rock Crossing and Payson in Winter : 

Red Rock Crossing and Payson in Winter www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 27

HOW DO WE QUANTIFY GROUND WATER? : 

HOW DO WE QUANTIFY GROUND WATER? www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 28

DO WE WAIT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN? : 

DO WE WAIT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN? www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 29

CALL TO ACTION The promise should be kept! : 

CALL TO ACTION The promise should be kept! Send letters to your Congresswoman and United States Senators. Take a packet of ten letters and have ten people sign. Provide your contact information. Send letters to the Editors of Newspapers. Check our website for in-depth review of the science studies and funding issues. Email and phone your friends to send letters, visit the website and tell their friends! www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 30

Questions? : 

Questions? www.verderiverbasinpartnership.org 31 © Copyright Verde River Basin Partnership January 11, 2010