Prescott Arizona News and Events - Read It News Magazine

Both Prescott and Prescott Valley Mayor's welcomed yesterday’s decision by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to increase the City of Prescott’s 100 year assured water supply.

The ADWR concluded that Prescott has approximately 20,000 acre-feet of water available that meets ADWR’s rigorous standards that the water be physically, legally and continuously available to the City for no less than 100 years.

The most controversial aspect of the decision includes approval of approximately 8,000 acre-feet of groundwater from the Big Chino Water Ranch, located in the nearby Big Chino Sub-basin, which will be split with Prescott Valley for use in that community pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement.

Several conservation groups have voiced concerns about the effect pumping from the Big Chino Aquifer may have on the health of the Verde River.

After an arduous application process, ADWR's decision represents a important milestone in the communities’ struggle to provide a permanent water supply for the region. With an overdraft of approximately 12,000 acre-feet this won't mark the end of Prescott's quest for safe yield, merely a step forward in that process.

“This decision allows us to responsibly move forward in achieving a Safe-Yield water supply,” Prescott Mayor Jack Wilson said. “We are moving toward sustainability for both our current residents and future generations. It goes hand in hand with our conservation efforts to protect the Verde River and the natural beauty of its surrounding environment. We also continue our efforts with the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation to look at long-term alternative water sources.”

Prescott Valley Mayor Harvey Skoog agreed that the decision is a positive step forward for the region.

“Every community in Arizona recognizes the value of proper water planning,” Prescott Valley Mayor Harvey Skoog said. “We have a responsibility to ensure that residents have water, and the approval to secure this supply will enable us to do that.”

In 2004, the City of Prescott, in cooperation with the Town of Prescott Valley, purchased the Big Chino Water Ranch in order to help meet the current and future water needs of the PrAMA.

Another aspect of both cities' safe yield strategy is taking more aggressive measures to promote water conservation on the part of households and local businesses. Higher water rates, outdoor watering restrictions and conservation incentive programs are showing progress in reducing water usage.

ADWR’s Decision and Order on Prescott’s application to modify its Assured Water Supply Designation will become final if no appeals are filed within the next 30 days.

With an assured water supply determination in hand, the communities will move forward on the design and financing phases of the Big Chino Water Ranch Project. ADWR has given the communities until 2019 to complete construction of the pipeline under the terms of this decision.

The Mayors cautioned that the Salt River Project and others may not be satisfied with the ADWR decision and will appeal. “The battle is far from over as we continue to fight these major corporations and large cities for the survival of our communities,” said Mayor Wilson.

The Salt River Project (SRP), a Phoenix based utility company has filed multiple objections throughout Prescott's application process.

While Prescott's Citizens Water Advocacy Group (CWAG) raised no official objection, a CWAG member stated that privately she was "disappointed by the decision, as I felt the objections raised were legitimate."

The fine print of this decision further indicates that City Officials will need to be pro-active in their attempts to limit outside parties from overtaxing the Big Chino resource.

Page six of the cover letter states, "As with all designations, the Department will monitor Prescott's designation, including the groundwater supplies from the Big Chino sub-basin. If new groundwater uses in the area impact the groundwater supplies in Prescott's designation in a manner that results in Prescott no longer having a 100-year assured water supply, the Department may require Prescott to modify its designation or may take action to revoke Prescott's designation."

The City of Prescott has already taken some steps to adress this issue, stating that "the Big Chino Water Ranch, and the remaining portion of the parent ranch (totaling approximately 10,000 acres), will be placed into a conservation easement to prevent further development once Project pumping commences."

More information about the project, regional sustainability efforts, and the official response regarding potential river impacts can be found at http://www.protectingourwaterresources.com.

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