Torreon ConsejoCiudadano 03102004

Presentation to the Consejo Cuidadano por el Agua de la Comarca Lagunera, A.C.Securing Sustainable Water Supplies in Arizona: 

Presentation to the Consejo Cuidadano por el Agua de la Comarca Lagunera, A.C. Securing Sustainable Water Supplies in Arizona March 10, 2004 Torreón, Coahuila México Sharon B. Megdal, Ph.D. Associate Director Water Resources Research Center 350 N. Campbell Tucson, AZ 85721 520-792-9591, ext 21 fax 520-792-8518 email smegdal@ag.arizona.edu

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Tucson This presentation addresses water management in the central Arizona region connecting and including Phoenix and Tucson, the two largest urban areas in Arizona.

Water 2025“Crisis management is not an effective solution for addressing long-term, systematic water supply problems.” U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton : 

Water 2025 “Crisis management is not an effective solution for addressing long-term, systematic water supply problems.” U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton

Arizona is rapidly growing, with a large proportion of the population relying on groundwater: 

Arizona is rapidly growing, with a large proportion of the population relying on groundwater

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Tucson,like much of Arizona,is growing rapidly. It is located in the Sonoran Desert. The University of Arizona is located in Tucson.

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Central Arizona rainfall averages between 19 and 30 centimeters annually There are two rainy seasons Summer monsoons, moisture from the southeast Winter storms, moisture comes from the west

Sources and Uses of Water In Arizona: 

Sources and Uses of Water In Arizona Arizona relies on groundwater, surface water, and treated wastewater (effluent) to meet its water needs. Important surface supplies are transported via canals. Dams are important parts of the surface water storage systems. Agricultural water use is close to 70 percent of statewide water use, but the municipal use is growing rapidly. Many communities in Arizona rely heavily on groundwater, although more recently (since the early 1990s) the Central Arizona Project has delivered Colorado River water to Central Arizona

Arizona Uses of Water – 1998: 

Arizona Uses of Water – 1998 68% 7% 25%

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Source: http://rubicon.water.ca.gov/pdfs/v2/v2metcon.pdf

Arizona Sources of Water – 1998One acre foot is 325,851 gallons of water. An acre foot of water is the amount that covers one acre of land with one foot deep water. It is equivalent to about 1.2 million liters.: 

Arizona Sources of Water – 1998 One acre foot is 325,851 gallons of water. An acre foot of water is the amount that covers one acre of land with one foot deep water. It is equivalent to about 1.2 million liters.

Overdraft a Problem: 

Overdraft a Problem GW pumped by municipal water providers, mining, agriculture and other industry. Groundwater pumped from aquifers faster than it is replenished by nature Problem: declining water tables

The State of Arizona Groundwater Management Act (GMA) of 1980: 

The State of Arizona Groundwater Management Act (GMA) of 1980 Established areas where groundwater management was required – Active Management Areas, each with a statutory management goal GMA required the adoption of Assured Water Supply Rules, which require growth to depend on renewable supplies. Conservation programs for each water using sector and management plans are developed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources every 10 years. No expansion of agricultural land in the AMAs.

Innovative Approach to Groundwater Management in certain parts of the state: 

Innovative Approach to Groundwater Management in certain parts of the state

Management Goal for Phoenix and Tucson Active Management Areas: Statutory Language: 

Management Goal for Phoenix and Tucson Active Management Areas: Statutory Language The management goal of the Tucson and Phoenix Active Management Areas is safe-yield by January 1, 2025. "Safe-yield" means a groundwater management goal which attempts to achieve and thereafter maintain a long-term balance between the annual amount of groundwater withdrawn in an active management area and the annual amount of natural and artificial recharge in the active management area.

Management Goal for Pinal AMA:Statutory Language: 

Management Goal for Pinal AMA: Statutory Language The management goal of the Pinal active management area is to allow development of non-irrigation uses as provided in this chapter and to preserve existing agricultural economies in the active management area for as long as feasible, consistent with the necessity to preserve future water supplies for non-irrigation uses.

Water supply decisions made by sub-state entities. Multiple political jurisdictions and private water providers involved in water management decisions.Management plans establish regulatory framework, but the decisions how to meet the regulations are made by the water user/water supplier.: 

Water supply decisions made by sub-state entities. Multiple political jurisdictions and private water providers involved in water management decisions. Management plans establish regulatory framework, but the decisions how to meet the regulations are made by the water user/water supplier. Many different water users/providers Boundaries often different from political subdivision boundaries. They are usually based on hydrologic boundaries. -Private and Public Municipal Water Providers -Ag -Industrial -Indian Users -Owners of Individual Wells

Importance of Surface Supplies: 

Importance of Surface Supplies Dams and canals have enabled water storage and conveyance Roosevelt Dam in Arizona, one of the dams in the Salt River Project Hoover Dam on the Colorado River – border of Arizona and Nevada

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Arizona Water Map Central Arizona Project shown in orange 541 kilometers Cost over $4 billion Pumps water from Point A, at sea level, to Point B, to a maximum elevation near Tucson of about 850 meters Built to transport 1.5 million acre feet of water annually A B

Importance of Effluent or Reclaimed Water Use: 

Importance of Effluent or Reclaimed Water Use Discharges from treatment plant into Santa Cruz River in Tucson area support riparian area. Treated Wastewater used for pastures and golf courses

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There is much water underground in some of the Active Management Areas. But there is a need to leave water stored underground for times of drought. In the current drought in Arizona, storage levels behind some dams have gotten very, very low. Salt River Project has had to cut back on its surface water deliveries two years in a row, even with storage behind dams.

Policy Innovations: 

Policy Innovations Water some times not where it is needed spatially or in time Solution: Storage and Recovery Underground Storage and Groundwater Savings Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District Intrastate water banking Interstate water banking

Underground Storage: 

Underground Storage Underground storage is at basins built for the purpose of replenishing underground aquifers. Studies are done prior to the construction of the basins and permits are needed to build and operate the projects. Basins need to be dried and maintained periodically.

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Tucson Water Central Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Facility Basin-opening ceremony Recovery Wells

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Graphic courtesy of Tucson Water This graphic shows how the water infiltrates the ground and makes its way to the aquifer, where it mixes with ambient groundwater. Over time, more and more CAP water mixes with the groundwater, changing the chemical composition of the recovered water.

Groundwater Savings Projects:Instead of using groundwater, agriculture substitutes CAP water or effluent.: 

Groundwater Savings Projects: Instead of using groundwater, agriculture substitutes CAP water or effluent.

What is happening in the other areas of Arizona?: 

What is happening in the other areas of Arizona?

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Action results from a need. The drought has highlighted the need for water resources management. But the need has been there all along. Predictable and sensible regulations can be good for the economy. Sustainable economies require sustainable water supplies. Need drives action

Current Regional Planning Efforts: 

Current Regional Planning Efforts Focused on obtaining information Examining water resource needs Want to recognize the link between growth and water Want good plans to be developed at the regional level But will regulation be necessary and who will do the regulating??? New regulations will not be welcome. Yet the laws of nature are what they are.

The Be’s of Regional Cooperation: 

The Be’s of Regional Cooperation Public policy development involves a lot of give and take, particularly when much is at stake. Some things to be when working on these collaborative, regional water efforts: Be willing to compromise. Compromise is not a bad thing. Be consistent and reliable Be willing to put effort into forging alliances and partnerships

The Be’s of Regional Cooperation (cont.): 

Be mindful of institutional settings (laws may need to be changed) Be patient and persistent Be careful what you ask for Be willing to put up resources, both monetary and in-kind Be inquisitive — ask questions Be a leader Be willing to work hard The Be’s of Regional Cooperation (cont.)

Concluding Remarks: 

Concluding Remarks I’ll conclude not with answers but with questions: Who will make what decisions (including ones of regulation and compliance)? Who will pay? Where will the water come from? Fundamentally, it is up to the people to decide the answers to these questions.

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Questions/Comments?