|
Barbara Litrell, president of the North Central Arizona Regional
<br />Watershed Consortium, contributed this Guest View.
<br />`Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed,
<br />that all who ever have. "Margaret Mead
<br />The North Central Arizona Regional Watershed Consortium came
<br />into being in early 2003 as a result of caring citizens who had joined
<br />groups to learn more about the precious water resources in their
<br />communities and to make a difference in decisions affecting the
<br />quantity, quality and sustainability of water in north - central Arizona
<br />and in the state in general. The NCARWC represents 23 of those
<br />citizens' groups who share common goals, purposes and strategies
<br />and who are committed to making sure the voices of citizens are
<br />heard in the decision - making halls of power.
<br />The seed that sprouted and grew into a consortium was
<br />planted in May, 2002, when the League of Women Voters Sedona
<br />— Verde Valley and the Verde River Citizens' Alliance joined forces
<br />to host a public education water forum for citizens in the Verde
<br />Watershed area. Two hundred concerned citizens attended the fo-
<br />rum to hear from experts on water, to question existing policies and
<br />laws in Arizona and the region, and to offer their ideas and recom-
<br />mendations to ensure a sustainable water supply now and for future
<br />generations. The Water Forum of 2002 raised the level of aware-
<br />ness among the general public about water issues and heightened
<br />citizens' interest in being involved in resolving those issues.
<br />Between May, 2002 and January 2003, the LWV Water Com-
<br />mittee became aware of the many citizens' groups that existed to
<br />address local water issues. The LWV Water Committee hosted a
<br />Citizens' Water Groups Conference at Cliff Castle Casino in Camp
<br />Verde on January 18. Representatives of 24 citizens' groups at-
<br />tended, along with over 50 observers including elected officials and
<br />others from government agencies, academia and the general public.
<br />It wasn't surprising that the groups found that they had a lot in
<br />common and, most importantly, they recognized that the voices and
<br />concerns of citizens needed to be heard. Encouraged by Rep. Tom
<br />O'Halleran, who spoke at the meeting, the groups agreed to draft a
<br />Memorandum of Understanding which was subsequently signed by
<br />23 groups representing organizations throughout Yavapai and Co-
<br />conino counties.
<br />The Memorandum of Understanding of the NCARWC states
<br />that "the pressures of unprecedented growth combined with a
<br />limited supply of water in the Verde and adjacent watersheds have
<br />raised concerns and fostered the formation of numerous citizens'
<br />groups. In addition, inadequate water resource information and the
<br />current regulatory framework create uncertainties and limitations on
<br />water resource management. These factors have led to the forma-
<br />tion of this consortium and the development of this Memorandum
<br />of Understanding."
<br />According to the MOU, the consortium was organized to maintain
<br />as flowing and healthy, all rivers, streams and wetlands within the
<br />region, to ensure that those actions taken in, around, or affecting
<br />the region render the natural and human communities within it
<br />sustainable, and to develop watershed and water resource plans and
<br />regulations that provide regional solutions consistent with the stated
<br />purposes.
<br />To accomplish its goals, the consortium established three
<br />standing committees, Law, Science and Education. The goals of the
<br />Law Committee include establishing regional authority for water
<br />planning and management, establishing a legal connection between
<br />surface water and groundwater and to revise Arizona -water law to
<br />sustain regional watersheds and ensure that public decision - makers
<br />connect water availability with land use approval.
<br />The Science Committee exists to ensure that adequate scientific
<br />information has been developed for decision - makers, to ensure that
<br />water budgets cover the region adequately, and to accelerate the rate
<br />of collection and dissemination of scientific information.
<br />The Education Committee has as its goals to raise the aware-
<br />ness of decision - makers of the critical value of water to a healthy
<br />north - central Arizona and the economic well being of the state,
<br />to raise the awareness of decision - makers and the public of the
<br />critical value of water quality, quantity, conservation, reuse and
<br />sustainability, and to raise awareness of the interrelationship be-
<br />tween the actions of our generation and the consequences for gen-
<br />erations to come.
<br />On March 26, at the invitation of Rep. Tom O'Halleran, six
<br />members of the consortium, supported by numerous other con-
<br />sortium members in the audience, addressed the Natural Resources
<br />Committee chaired by Rep. O'Halleran.
<br />The presenters shared maps and charts detailing the 7.2 million
<br />acres that make up north- central Arizona, the 425,000 acre -feet and
<br />83,000 acre -feet of water provided to the Phoenix Metro area by
<br />the Verde and Gila River systems respectively and which represent
<br />40 percent of the non -CAP water delivered to the Phoenix Metro
<br />district, and the astounding 61 percent population growth in rural
<br />Yavapai County in ten years. With the projected five times addition-
<br />al increase over the next 47 years, the Consortium representative
<br />asked the committee, "How are we to sustain a five times increase
<br />in population with surface waters already over - allocated, groundwa-
<br />ter being mined, the water table dropping as a result of overdraft -
<br />ing, and predicted long -term drought conditions ?"
<br />Other issues presented by consortium representatives included
<br />concerns about the lack of connection between growth and water
<br />supply, symptoms of water problems evidenced by wells going dry
<br />or being drilled deeper, diminishing farmlands, and damage and
<br />risks to riparian areas.
<br />For more information about the consortium, contact Barbara
<br />Litrell at 649 -0135 or blitrell@aol.com A
<br />
|