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27 May 2009
Arizona Prepares for Possibility of Future Water Shortages
State relies on Colorado River for agriculture, municipal use
Littleton, Colorado — The Colorado River is Arizona’s largest renewable surface water supply; the state is allocated 3,454 million cubic meters (2.8 million acre-feet) of water from the river annually.
Most of Arizona’s portion is used for agriculture. For example, in southern Arizona, vibrant farming communities in the Yuma Valley rely in large part on river water to support a highly lucrative winter vegetable economy, according to Perri Benemelis, manager of the Colorado River Section in the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
But Arizona’s municipal water needs are increasing. “Although economic forces have recently slowed development pressure, Arizona has experienced a decade of exponential population growth and associated increased water demand,” Benemelis told America.gov. “In some instances, increased municipal and industrial demand is being met [by transferring] agricultural water rights.”
About half of the state’s share of Colorado River water is delivered to central Arizona through the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal. “Completion of the CAP accomplished two important state goals: the full utilization of Arizona’s Colorado River apportionment and a shift to the use of a renewable surface water supply in place of continued groundwater [pumping],” Benemelis said. In certain locations in central Arizona, underground water has been pumped out faster than the rate of natural and man-made replenishment of these groundwater sources. The ground in some areas has sunk tens of meters and opened fissures in the earth.
Some aspects of the CAP were altered primarily in response to environmental concerns. The original plan included construction of Orme Dam, but the dam later was canceled by Congress, “largely in response to environmental organizations and tribal community concerns about possible adverse impacts to nesting bald eagles,” Benemelis said. “Another issue that was identified during environmental consultation was the potential for importing non-native aquatic species through the CAP aqueduct system into other rivers and streams in the state. A number of conservation measures were implemented to minimize or eliminate this threat.”
To prepare for the future, the state established the Arizona Water Banking Authority in the mid-1990s to store Arizona’s unused share of Colorado River water in underground aquifers within the state as a backup water supply for cities and industries during future river shortages, Benemelis said. “Due to recent state budget cuts, maintaining adequate funding [for] the Arizona Water Banking Authority during the current economic crisis is a serious challenge facing the state.”
The potential for future water shortages from the river is of critical concern to Arizona, but recently adopted shortage criteria will give Arizona water users an opportunity to better plan for possible shortfalls. “The state has invested heavily in measures to [reduce] the impact of future shortages,” Benemelis said.
The Arizona Department of Water Resources is responsible for Arizona’s Colorado River supply, and also represents the state on the Salinity Control Advisory Council, working with the other basin states and federal agencies to establish standards for levels of salt in the river and to implement salinity control projects.
More information is available through the department’s Web site.
