3/6/2009 12:10:00 AM Prescott, Prescott Valley
file complaint to get
information from SRP
PRESCOTT - In response to what local officials call "repeated refusals" by the Salt River Project to provide water-related information, Prescott and Prescott Valley this week filed a legal complaint against the Phoenix-area utility company.
The matter centers on the local governments' efforts to get information from SRP on its opposition to the Big Chino Water Ranch, which Prescott and Prescott Valley own northwest of Paulden.
In a press release that went out at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Prescott and Prescott Valley maintain that they have sought information since early 2008 on "SRP's efforts to derail the communities' Big Chino Water Ranch pipeline project."
The press release adds that SRP - "as a political subdivision of the State of Arizona" - is subject to the state's public records laws.
"...Yet SRP has continually balked at providing relevant public information claiming the law does not apply to them," the press release added.
Prescott Valley Deputy Town Attorney Colleen Auer said Prescott and Prescott Valley have sought information such as hydrological and environmental studies, as well other information on SRP's claims that the water ranch would harm the Verde River.
"They've been saying that our project would impact the river, and we want to see information to support that claim," Auer said late Thursday. "In a nutshell, we're saying, 'show us what you've got.'"
While Auer said SRP has provided some information, she said the utility company "has consistently taken the position that they are not subject to the state's public records laws."
Of the move to file a complaint for special action in Maricopa County Superior Court on Wednesday, Prescott Valley Town Manager Larry Tarkowski said in the press release: "This was not the town's or the city's preferred course of action. It is unfortunate that SRP has chosen not to operate with transparency."
Local governments have long been embroiled in a disagreement with SRP over Prescott and Prescott Valley's plans to build a 30-mile pipeline from the Big Chino Water Ranch for importation of thousands of acre-feet of water per year.
SPR claims senior downstream rights to Verde River water and maintains that the large-scale pumping from the Big Chino Basin, which is near the headwaters of the Verde, would affect the flow of the river.
SRP officials were unavailable for comment Thursday night.
Reader Comments
Posted: Saturday, March 07, 2009
Article comment by:
Disgusted
There's your Prop 401 money if you voted Yes. They gotta ya! The Lawyers will get fat! The Land Barons and Developers will get rich. The politicians...? I don't know their motivation sure would welcome an investigation. You have been Fained by the Fickle Finger of Fate.
Posted: Saturday, March 07, 2009
Article comment by:
NJ
Why I voted no on prop 401 for this reason!
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Tony Krzysik
Prescott is doing all that it can to hide and obfuscate all science-based evidence relevant to its desire to pump the Big Chino aquifer, the headwaters of the Verde River. Their motivation is clear - they are surrogates to developers and land barons. I submitted a Talk of the Town attempting to clarify the major science issues for the public, but it was not published.
The Upper Verde River has exceptional biological value, virtually unparalleled in the arid Southwest. This river must be protected.
The hydrological and geological science literature on the Upper Verde watershed have clearly concluded that the Big Chino supplies 80-86% of the water to the base flow of the Upper Verde River (UVR), and I have seen the outflow springs.
What do ground water hydrology models say about the fate of the UVR? Prescott's hydrologist modeled only the upper Big Chino, exactly where Prescott's pumping would take place. Does Prescott care or is afraid to know what happens outside of their wells? Jon Ford, our hydrologist, ran the same model, using the same software and data as Prescott's, but added additional hydrology and geology data that more than tripled Prescott's modeled area to include: upper, middle, and lower Big Chino, Williamson Valley Wash, and Upper Verde River and its springs. Ford's model output predicted: 1) that the Big Chino aquifer base flow to the Verde River would be significantly reduced, 2) the current average 100 feet to ground water in the Big Chino would become 700-800 feet after 100 years, 3) with the inevitable growth of additional wells in the area the legally required 100 year Assured Water Supply cannot be met, and 4) if pumping occurs for 150 years the depletion of water would last 450 years.
The local taxpayers are incurring a very steep bill, much higher than they anticipate, for BOTH litigation and Prescott's public relations costs to misrepresent ecological and hydrological reality.
Anthony J. Krzysik, Ph.D.
Research & Consultant Ecologist, Prescott
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
They want us to believe growth pays for growth, but we pay for the legal fees.
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Is rebellion becoming necessary?
City officials in both Prescott Valley and Prescott are tools of big land owners, large corporations, and developers. In pursuing the interests of these favored groups, the officials rapidly are ruining both communities, both fiscally and environmentally. We citizens and voters must rid ourselves of these dishonest politicians and their appointed minions as quickly as possible or suffer the consequences. My God, they are so transparent.
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Leslie Hoy
This is ridiculous! Prescott and PV continue to say pumping won't harm the river when all the science except what they paid for themselves says it will. On March 14, Mayor Wilson says he will tell CWAG and the public the "inside story" of the negotiations. Find out more at cwagaz.org, including a link to all the documents already filed in Judge Sheddon's hearings on Prescott's request for modification of its assured water supply, and attend the Mar. 14 meeting to hear the "inside story."
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009
Article comment by:
P.O.'d in Paulden
Isn't the illustrious Wilson the one who refused to sit down with SRP to discuss their info ? Now my guess is that SRP will call the cities' bluff. "You got to know when to hold em, and know when to fold em" ! Sorry, but you don't get to have it both ways.
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Nancy Shelton
According to SRP, it has two entities (see below). The water provide is a private corporation. I believe the lawsuit is a bit of a "stretch" and thus a waste of taxpayers' money.
FROM SRP WEBSITE:
SRP is two entities: the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, a political subdivision of the state of Arizona; and the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association, a private corporation.
The District provides electricity to nearly 930,000 retail customers in the Phoenix area. It operates or participates in 11 major power plants and numerous other generating stations, including thermal, nuclear, natural gas and hydroelectric sources.
The Association delivers nearly 1 million acre-feet of water annually to a service area in central Arizona. An extensive water delivery system is maintained and operated by the Association, including reservoirs, wells, canals and irrigation laterals
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009
Article comment by:
George Seaman
I am really confused here, and I mean that honestly. SRP is a litigant with Prescot/Prescott Valley and the latter wants SRP to reveal their hand prior to going to court? I honestly do not know how this works, can someone inform me? If SRP made a request for information that was discussed in executive sessions regarding the pumping, would they be entitled to that information prior to meeting in court? I think it is clear that P/PV want their cake and eat it too, they have literally told SRP to "take their best shot" and now that
SRP is doing just that the cities want SRP to reveal their strategies and information. I just don't think it works that way. And of course I would really appreciate it if someone could tell me why I am wrong on this.
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Just what is SRP trying to hide?
Just what is SRP trying to hide by not providing this information? If they say the cities are going to damage the Verde, why not just come out and release their data that says that will happen?
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009
Article comment by:
tom
If they are looking at a property tax, the voters have to approve it. Could this be in preparation for the failure of Prop 401 home rule. These people will stop at nothing to get your money. SRP has very deep pockets it will be in the courts for 20 years or till the town and city give in. If there is no water then the growth needs to stop!
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
How much are we spending in legal fees on this? And last night at the council work session a town employee was told to get started on the installation of Prescott Valley Property tax. Why?
