CWAG

Babbitt: Big Chino, the Verde River: a time for action

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 18:08:40 -0700

Former Arizona governor Bruce Babbitt expresses his concerns about threats to the scenic Verde River from proliferating subdivision proposals and lot splits, industrial agriculture and especially from excessive pumping of water by Prescott and Prescott Valley.

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's column in the Daily Courier, published January 18, 2022.

We are anticipating Governor Babbitt's presentation at the CWAG meeting on Sat. Aug. 13, 2022

OpEd: Are domestic wells draining our aquifer?

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 19:45:47 -0700

Are domestic wells draining our aquifer? No.

In the Prescott Active Management Area (PrAMA), family homes in rural areas that are not served by a water utility must rely on a small domestic well. The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) calls these family wells “exempt wells,” meaning that they are not required to report annual water use.

ADWR management plans do not mention and fail to protect these families. ADWR is apparently unaware that about 500 family wells on the edges of the Little Chino aquifer in the PrAMA are now failing, an early symptom of excessive groundwater pumping. Worse, one local water manager has historically blamed family wells for the groundwater overdraft, claiming the wells are unregulated. This is an attempt to deflect blame from the true culprits by scapegoating.

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's column in the Daily Courier, published April 7, 2024.

OpEd: Population growth versus water

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 20:32:34 -0700

Growth is inevitable and there is no legal or practical way to stop it. However, growth can be managed and regulated by local zoning and city policies. Many citizens hope and believe that water resources can be used to limit growth, but that is not the case.

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's column in the Daily Courier, published February 20, 2024