Lucy Mason welcomes attendees to her water meeting.

“We can lead you to water but we can’t let you drink.”

Herb Guenther, Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources gave everyone a chuckle in an otherwise serious meeting earlier this month. Guenther was the first to speak at the official State of Arizona House of Representatives Committee Meeting convened at Yavapai College by Representative Lucy Mason. Mason is the chairman of the Water and Agriculture Committee. She welcomed fellow Representatives Lynne Pancrazi from District 24, and Albert Tom from District 2.

Joining Director Guenther from ADWR, were invited officials, attorneys representatives from developers and environmental group leaders who took turns speaking to the committee about the Verde River, growth in the area, water supplies and their different concerns.

Guenther gave a PowerPoint presentation showing an overview of the studies that have been done on the Big Chino Aquifer, Little Chino Aquiver and Verde River. Included in the presentation was a slide entitled, “What we Know and What we Don’t Know” which was a summary of the studies on the aquifers that have been done so far and the information that may never be 100% scientifically proven. Another chart showed that there is a direct correlation between rainfall, withdrawals from the aquifers and the base flow of the Verde River. More rain means more flow, and a higher level of water in the test well. Guenther’s chart lays the measurements out on a year by year basis, and it’s a user-friendly way to see cause and effect of water use.

Guenther further stated that, “We do know that water (surface of the water) in the Little Chino has dropped between 40 and 70 feet over the last 18 – 19 years. Some of the springs in that particular sub basin have shown significant decline. So we don’t believe that the Little Chino is in equilibrium. We do believe that the Little Chino is in a stage of being mined because it’s showing those declines.” Guenther believes that there is no way to answer some of the questions regarding pumping and the effect on the Verde River with 100 percent accuracy, however he does state that, “if you significantly exceed the natural recharge the probability is that that type of sustained pumping will eventually impact the base flow. It’s just a matter of how long it will take before those impacts arrive.”

Bob Posey, Region III Supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department explained that there are now two Federal designations having to do with the Verde River. Parts of the Verde have been designated as a Critical Habitat to help protect the loach minnow and the spike dace fish. And in 1984 the Verde was granted the federal designation of Wild and Scenic River. Posey went on to say “The Verde, as far as wildlife goes, is a very important for what we call neotropical migrants, those are birds that migrate from Canada through the U.S. down to Mexico and South America. So water and the river are a big deal to us. We are about maintaining the viability and stability of wildlife and its habitats.” Posey feels that by working together the groups can come up with a plan for growth that will allow fish and wildlife to flourish. However, he stated that, “One of the real things is that if fish decline continues there will be more stipulations placed on local governments and the state governments as well. We don’t want that to happen.” Posey said that the Arizona Game and Fish Department has purchased property along the Verde River which they call the Upper Verde River Wildlife Management Area, and there are plans to purchase more property as it becomes available.

Greg Kornrumph from the Salt River Project pointed out that SRP has long standing senior surface water rights downstream in the Salt River Valley. “We are concerned about impacts obviously from up stream both within pumping in Big Chino as well as pumping as a result of additional well development in the Verde Valley.” Early in October Kornrumph was interviewed on Flagstaff’s public radio station KNAU and said, “This is water that’s been flowing in that river forever. To the extent that there are impacts that reduce that flow it’s an impact to water rights and water supplies that SRP and it’s shareholders have relied upon for over a 100 years.” SRP continues to show its concern for the Verde River and recently set up a website where interested community members can keep track of the Verde River watershed.

Mason’s group also heard from Mike Pearce representating the Home Builders Association of Yavapai County. Pearce pointed out that aside from building homes, contractors build “infrastructure for the water and sewer systems.” Pierce states that his association has concerns about the water situation across the state and particularly in the Prescott area. “The Prescott AMA and the land base that it represents is a very desirable place to live, a very desirable place for people to move. There’s a high demand for new houses here and the area is really beginning to feel a real affordability housing crunch. The cost of water is being passed on to the homebuyers. We would like to see cooperation in the region, and the ability to bring water to where it’s needed so that the industry can continue and people can benefit from the ability to live in the state of AZ.”

Part II continues with comments from Prescott Valley’s Water Resources Director John Munderloh, Sandy Bahr from the Sierra Club, Arizona Senator Tom O’Halleran, local mayors and citizens.

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