11/21/2009 10:01:00 PM Editorial: Water plan needs thorough airing
The current controversy in Chino Valley over its proposed water conservation ordinance is an excellent illustration of two key points.
First, town staff proposes laws and policies, but the town council needs to make the final decision.
Second, public policies that will affect peoples' lives dramatically require a lot of discussion with the people who pay the bills and will have to live with the results.
The Chino Valley Town Council was to get its first look Dec. 1 at Water Resources Director Mark Holmes' proposed ordinance covering water sustainability, conservation and historically irrigated acres. But now council won't take up the matter until Dec. 10 and then only a small part of it.
Holmes said that because of the size of the ordinance and what he called "some misinformation currently circulating" in the community about it, the council is going to discuss it in small portions.
It's a very good idea. Leaks of the draft version have elicited near apoplectic reactions from local nurserymen and the Yavapai County Contractors Association.
"The town of Chino Valley will consider adopting an 84-page law that completely bans all water use for landscapes, washing cars, kids playing on Slip 'n Slides, horses, vegetable gardens, or any other outdoor use of water," said Prescott nurseryman Ken Lain in his Sunday column in the Daily Courier this past week. "Even pools and spas are at risk!"
Holmes took issue with that statement. He pointed out that Chino Valley has no water resources and that his proposal deals with future water from historically irrigated acres (HIA). Residents may use HIA water only for interior uses within any development. People may water landscapes, horses and vegetable gardens, but they need to find an alternate source of water such as captured rainwater, well water or purchased water.
Given the difficulty and expense of acquiring an alternate water source, one can understand Lain's viewpoint.
Some of Lain's difficulty may be self-inflicted, Holmes says, because he sought to gather all stakeholders in preparation of the ordinance, but landscapers came to only three meetings then walked away from the table in 2008.
Prescott went through some similar painful rites of passage four years ago when city staff proposed some ambitious water conservation measures that brought segments of the community out with political guns blazing.
It took a good bit of discussion before the final policies took effect.
Likely it will be the same with Chino Valley. It's a sad fact of life that some of the people a policy will affect the most don't get involved in the early stages when they should.
Nonetheless, the city will need to work out these differences with the community, the contractors and nurserymen.
The council is wise to break it into smaller pieces for discussion, and those who didn't get involved with the policy in its early stages need to do so now.
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Gary Beverly
To "No name provided": The main features of the ordinance are consistent with my "pretty speech" post, especially section 60.12 "Restrictions on Imported Water". This is the section that requires new growth to use only sustainable water supplies. But, I will admit that upon reading the thing very closely, some sections (especially 60.07 "Outdoor Conservation", which needs clarification) do not clearly state who is affected. For example, apparently everyone is restricted from spray irrigation during summer days, but you can sprinkle on summer nights, which is no big deal. It isn't clear to me just who is restricted from planting new turf. If a CV water main is available, you must connect if your home was built after 9/2004 - that is weirdly classified as "new" in the town codes - and this is an imposition on current homeowners. The draft ordinance is a great start, but some parts need clarification.
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Cindy
Sheesh... it's about time to start pleading for ZERO population growth. Believe me, we'll be just fine without all the mega-growth we've been experiencing... "grow or die" is just an idiotic myth. Then we won't have to fight over the water or wonder where more is going to come from or pay more more more for it.
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Gary Beverly
TO "Where's the Water": Chino's Water Czar Mark Holmes has figured out where Chino can get the water. Go to the Council meetings and learn about it. TO "5th Amendment": All of the wells in Chino, including private wells and Prescott municipal wells that tap the deep aquifer withdraw water from the Verde River. This Little Chino aquifer surfaces at Del Rio Springs, which is now at less than half of predevelopment flow and is projected to go dry in 2025. The aquifer feeds about 3000 acre-feet/yr as subflow into the Big Chino aquifer under the area near Sullivan Lake. The main source of Verde River base flow is the Big Chino aquifer, which represents about 80% of the roughly 17000 acre-ft/yr flow from Verde Springs. The Little Chino aquifer contributes roughly 15% of the Verde River base flow, so YES, pumping in Chino effects the base flow.
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
5th Amendment
Wow, the Chino Valley private and corporate wells affect the base flow of the Verde, a specious misrepresentation and SRP corporate propaganda. Sorry, you can't have our wells for corporate gain.
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
gary, pretty speech. I may be near sighted as well as short sighted because I can not find where the document says it is only for new growth and HIA water. Gary, will you be the first to voluntarily abandon their well in exchange for the Town's water service?
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Gary, try reading the ordinance before you spout out your MISinformation. As a note i am a life time resident, and I have read the code and yes it can and will effect my well now and into the future.
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Where's the Water?
"Chino Valley has no water resources"- so, is anyone trying to figure out where Chino can get enough water to survive? It's no good screaming about your RIGHT to use all the water you want if there IS no water for you to use. And if suddenly there was plenty, I doubt that the council would still be trying to take away anyone's right to use it. So where's the water going to come from? Are Chino's taps going to run dry while people loudly refuse to compromise the right to use water that doesn't exist? We need to be finding options for where to get water, not debating the rightness or wrongness of limiting people's right to use it.
Posted: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Article comment by:
Gary Beverly
As usual, the shortsighted uninformed, including Ken Lain, are spouting misinformation and false fear about this ordinance. The rule restricting landscape irrigation has many positive effects. FIRST, it applies only to new, future connections to the town water system when HIA water is used. It actually will protect current residents - who are not restricted - using wells by slowing the decline in the water table that threatens all our property values. SECOND, it will stimulate the landscape contractor/supply business by opening new products and services to those businesses: rooftop collection tanks, drip irrigation systems, specialty native plants, etc. Contractors smart enough to develop new skills and products for low water landscapes will get new clients while contractors that are less business savvy will wither and die. Change is the essence of small business - embrace it or die! THIRD, the conservation measures will allow more new homes to be built in higher density developments on a limited water budget. That is more jobs, more retail, more services for the entire community. FOURTH, the rule permits growth while protecting the Verde River base flow and water quality. This preserves an important quality of life amenity for Chino Valley citizens. IN SUMMARY: the new water ordinance is a win-win for builders, citizens, and the Verde River. It catapults Chino Valley into a leadership role in the state for enlightened municipal policy; this is what Prescott and Prescott Valley could do if only they used guts and brains. Don't dismiss it based on a false fear of change and misconstrued immediate self interest. Please learn more and think it through. PS: I've lived in Chino for 35 years.
Posted: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Breaking down the proposed ordinance is an attempt to "Divide and conquer." When the ordinance is divided into bite size chunks and only those affected by the particular chunk being discussed get to comment is wrong. It dilutes the overall input by the majority who will be eventually be affected. Small town politics are based on who's ox is being gored. If politicians can make you believe they are looking out for you while your neighbor is taking it on the chin then they marginalize the popular outcry and make major objectors look like a fringe group. You folks in Chino Valley better stay on top of this one. Once the ordinance is passed it can be amended to gore all the oxen and now the smaller groups getting gored one at a time have no majority opinion to sway the implementation. Soon or late this will all come down to court fights in which only the lawyers win. My suggestion is to jam the halls at the council meeting and dedicate yourselves to recall petitions for anyone on the council who makes a motion to adopt this ordinance. Start now getting signatures on petitions to throw out any council member who speaks in favor of this restriction of your rights to sustainable water supply. Call for dismissal of the bureaucrat who came up with this tyranny. Right now the game is shifted in the favor of the big developers who make cash contributions to the elected officials. Some can't afford to buy their elected officials with contributions. Homeowners, nurserymen, equestrians, gardeners, pool and spa owners, car washers, cooks,bathers (who must now shower) and and other stake holders better get in early and stay late or this one or it will come to be a law and then you are powerless. They have badges. Whoever thought a town in Arizona would attempt such a bone-headed idea.
"Come to Chino Valley; We control your water." A
Posted: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
without even having finished reading the proposed Ordinance I have to say it is absolutely ridiculous. As for it being just HIA, that is misinformation...or lets just say a lie. The first paragraph of the document states "This Chapter shall apply to all water whether potable or effluent and may apply to all citizens, businesses, industry and governmental entities within the corporate limits of the Town of Chino Valley and all water customers of the Utilities Division wherever situated." Chino citizens had better unite against this one! It is the most excessive and over controlling document I have ever seen, and this "unlimited" authority will be put in the hands of staff who have no practical experience in this area at all. I say unlimited authority because of all the terms such as "deems necessary". A classic example ... is a property with a well hooking up to the water main will be required to abandon the well and find an alternate source for any outdoor water use...period. Explain that one away Mr. Holmes.
Posted: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
An 84 page document is is waaayy overkill. The Town staff has always been notorious for misinterpeting or not being familiar with thier own rules and regulations. They are also popular for coming up with these kind of documents and setting them up on the shelf to collect dust. How much money has been spent coming up with a document regulating an idea? According to all the pundits and financial gurus familiar with municipalities, it is time for the Town to switch into survival mode. Probably need to quit chasing rainbows and start getting serious about managing what you already have. Planning does not always have to be something new, sometimes it is just planning to succeed with what you have through difficult times.
Posted: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Article comment by:
Water Boy
Breaking down the proposed ordinance is an attempt to "Divide and conquer." When the ordinance is divided into bite size chunks and only those affected by the particular chunk being discussed dilutes the overall input by the majority who will be affected. Small town politics are based on who's ox is being gored. If politicians can make you believe they are looking out for you while your neighbor is taking it on the chin then they marginalize the popular outcry and make them look like a fringe group. You folks in Chino Valley better stay on top of this one. Once the ordinance is passed it can be amended to gore all the oxen and now the smaller groups getting gored one at a time have no majority opinion to sway the implementation. Soon or late this will all come down to court fights in which only the lawyers win. My suggestion is to jam the halls at the council meeting and agree to recall anyone on the council who makes a motion to adopt this ordinance. Start now getting signatures on petitions to throw out any council member who speaks in favor of this restriction of your rights to sustainable water supply. Right now the game is shifted toward the big developers who make contributions to the elected officials. Homeowners, nurserymen, equestrians, gardeners, pool and spa owners, car washers and other stake holders better get in early and stay late or this one will come to be a law and then you are powerless.
