2023-06-10 22:34:30
Although the basin of the Colorado River is found in drought since the year 1999 and the dams Glen Canyon y Hoover they are emptying, Arizona has sufficient water in it subsoilyou just have to manage correctly, reported the state representative, Tim Dunn.
The Colorado River basin is in the longest and most intense period of drought in the last 114 years, which has resulted in the application of extraordinary measures contemplated in act 323 of the binational water agreement, which has resulted in cuts to Baja California of 99 million cubic meters (Mm3) in 2022 and 128 Mm3 in 2023.
The states of the lower basin of the Colorado River, such as California, Arizona and Nevada, reached an agreement to achieve savings of up to 3.7 Mm3 by 2026.
In this regard, in the framework of the 32nd anniversary of the signing of the Arizona Groundwater Transportation Act of 1991, state representative Tim Dunn points out, “We are not running out of water.”
Reminds Arizona leaders that the state has a plan to address issues identified in an integrated numerical groundwater model released June 1 for the Phoenix Active Management Area (AMA) and Assured Water Supply ( AWS) of 100 years.
The Arizona Groundwater Transportation Act of 1991 established Arizona’s plan to meet unmet demand in the AWS program. It set aside four groundwater basins, rich in groundwater resources, to give urban areas a source of water from which they might draw, 30 years in the future.
These are the Harquahala, Butler Valley, McMullen, and Big Chino groundwater basins.
They were created more than 30 years ago, precisely so that we might withdraw from them at times like the present. Essentially, they are Arizona’s water savings account.
Considering what Lakes Mead (Hoover Dam) and Lake Powell (Glen Canyon Dam) on the Colorado River have been through over the past 15 years, groundwater in the Phoenix metropolitan area is in an incredible state, the politician said. .
“And the fact that the Phoenix metropolitan area is experiencing rapid growth is a good thing. It’s good for our economy and it tells us that people want to live here. We have one of the fastest growth rates in the nation.”
But the updated groundwater model will have an impact. He tells us that we need to check our speed and make sure we have enough water for the future. But it’s nothing we can’t handle. We have dealt with this before.
“When it comes to water, we have seen times of rapid growth and scarcity. We have spent years debating the issues and have invested in looking to the future. We have a plan.
In 1991, we were faced with a similar situation. Worse than what we face today. And we knew we would face it once more.”
In a 2022 interview with the Queen Creek Tribune, former Representative Stan Barnes had this to say regarding groundwater basins:
“It was contemplated that the growth areas of Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties would one day need the water that existed in the Harquahala Valley.”
“It was for a purpose that the water that was used in Harquahala would be used to support development in the growth areas of Arizona.”
Historically, in rural Arizona, we have opposed the idea of transferring water to satisfy the unquenchable thirst for growth in urban Arizona. We opposed it in 1991 and we continue to put up. On behalf of my constituents in Yuma and along the Colorado River, I oppose it, he stated.
But the Groundwater Transportation Act of 1991 made a compromise we might live with. Our state leaders knew the challenges and tackled them head on.
Urban and rural arizonensis came together and agreed to set aside groundwater basins to give urban areas the water they would need, while protecting rural communities and the fresh produce America depends on in the Yuma area.
The transfer basins contain far more than the 4.9 million acre-feet (8& thousand 044 Mm3) needed by the Phoenix AMA. At least 20 to 30 million acre-feet total, according to the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Harquahala alone contains between 15 and 20 million acre-feet.
Simply put, the Groundwater Transportation Act of 1991 is Arizona’s plan to meet the unmet demand in the Phoenix AMA. Harquahala is the solution.
Provides the legal and physical supply that Arizona needs. With Harquahala, we can continue to have new growth on top of what’s already in the works.
With the launch of the new groundwater model, Arizona isn’t slowing down growth. We’re just slowing down a bit and reassessing our speed to determine what the proper pace should be.
We are at a tipping point, but we are prepared. Arizona has a plan. We have one since 1991.
With Harquahala, all we have to do is touch it and start moving the water. Just as our former state leaders planned 32 years ago.
Tim Dunn is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving the 25th Legislative District, which includes parts of Yuma, Maricopa and La Paz counties.
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