11/13/2008 10:47:00 PM ADWR rules on Prescott assured water supply
The Daily Courier
PRESCOTT - The Arizona Department of Water Resources announced its decision Thursday to increase Prescott's 100-year assured water supply - a move that mayors in Prescott and Prescott Valley welcomed.
The ADWR decision includes approval of about 8,000 acre-feet of groundwater from the Big Chino Water Ranch.
The two communities plan to build a pipeline from the Paulden-area Big Chino Water Ranch to import water from the Big Chino sub-basin.
"The decision allows us to responsibly move forward in achieving a safe-yield water supply," Prescott Mayor Jack Wilson said in a press release from the two municipalities. "We are moving toward sustainability for both our current residents and future generations."
Prescott Valley Mayor Harvey Skoog agreed that the decision is a positive step forward for the region.
"We have a responsibility to ensure that residents have water," Skoog said, "and the approval to secure this supply will enable us to do that."
ADWR now allows a 30-day period for appeals, before the decision and order on Prescott's application to modify its assured water supply would become final.
Reader Comments
Posted: Sunday, November 16, 2008
Article comment by:
PeterE
I understand that there is historical use and ownership of the water in the Big Chino Water Ranch... The basis of actual ownership of the water.
Is the Verde Friends group advocating the taking of those rights without compensation?
We need to know more!
Posted: Sunday, November 16, 2008
Article comment by:
Nancy Shelton
SRP is not the sole water provider for the Phoenix metropolitan area. In fact, they provide water to 2 million of the total 6 million population. The amount of water provided has remained unchanged over the years, as agricultural use has been replaced by residential use. MOSTLY IGNORED, however, it the fact that SRP does provide electrical power to the entire metropolitan area. Electrical power generation is highly reliant on having a reliable water supply. So SRP is not only protecting the water for the interest of its water users but also for the energy needs of the entire area. The focus on all the swimming pools/golf courses in the Valley is a "red-herring" issue.
Posted: Friday, November 14, 2008
Article comment by:
Water = Money for the Rich!
Look; Water = Money. Those that have rangeland need water to develop and sell the otherwise near usless land. They thereby influence and control the politicians that do their bidding. You guess the reasons and I'm sure its not from the goodness of their politician hearts. They also set up organizations like CAP to propagandize their needs and wants.
Its a con game but played by sophisticated well educated players. You common folks don't stand a chance unless you throw the political lapdogs out of office.
Posted: Friday, November 14, 2008
Article comment by:
P.O.'d in Paulden
Christopher, I don't completely disagree with you, but SRP is the only one in the fight big enough to challenge the podunk cities of PV and Prescott. They have never tried to drain the Big Chino, and I have more faith in them not to in the future, then the aforementioned cities. "Orvill" said it best, we don't mean anything to them, oh, except after they've drained our wells. I bet that then they will offer to sell us "their" water (at a profit) !
Posted: Friday, November 14, 2008
Article comment by:
Orvill read in between the lines baucher
Hoorah! Is this movie finally getting to action parts? I think this pipeline thing is going to get tied up in court battles for years to come. Why is it that Prescott and PV seem to think they are the only ones who can drain the water. I'm sure that there are a lot of folks that are using water from this aquifer that are sitting on the edge of watching their water supplies dry up. Geez do we have greedy politicians running everything. Good luck on this one. Watch your local news for the "eminate Domain" thing to come up folks. Just like the five-lane "make me money" Carol Springer mess and the county's eminent domain decree to steal people's property all in the name of making money for some rich rancher. Well the City of Prescott is next on the agenda for just that. You folks up there in Paulden don't seem to mean a thing to these corrupt polititions. Let the water wars begin.
Posted: Friday, November 14, 2008
Article comment by:
Christopher
Sorry there PO'd, but SRP needs you to stop pumping in order to fill more swimming pools and maintain the green oasis life style in the Valley.
Posted: Friday, November 14, 2008
Article comment by:
Rancher up north
ADWR has a responsibility to me, too. My family and my animals need water, which we currently have, unless it's ripped off for those greedy developers. What about us and our future generations - the families and ranches on wells already up here? What about our rights to water to sustain us? ADWR owes us.
Posted: Friday, November 14, 2008
Article comment by:
P.O.'d in Paulden
It ain't over till the fat lady sings, and she's not even warmed up yet ! The water in the Big Chino is also needed by those of us on wells in Paulden and to sustain the Verde River flow. What about our "future", don't we count too ? I welcome the SRP's legal challenge to to these threats against our water supply.
Posted: Friday, November 14, 2008
Article comment by:
George Seaman
Hold onto your hats, the storm is just around the corner now!
