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CWAG writes a monthly Op-Ed column in the Prescott Courier. Here’s the full archive.

OP-ED COLUMNS Files

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2008-12-25 Municipalities ignore water issues

Prescott and Prescott Valley are proceeding with a project to import about 8,000 to 11,300 acre-feet per year of water from the Big Chino Valley for use within the Prescott region.
The two municipalities have not put forth a mitigation plan, but have undertaken an expensive public-relations campaign with a web site to convince residents that their Big Chino Water Ranch project will not reduce flow in the Verde River.

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's column in the Daily Courier, published December 25, 2008.

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2008-03-02 CWAG/ADWR Safe Yield Debate

The Arizona Department of Water Resources [ADWR] in 1998 declared the Prescott Active Management Area to be groundwater mining and said it must reach a state of safe-yield by 2025. Recently [at the time this column was written] the state said it is a guideline rather than a deadline with consequences if the area does not meet it. Should local governments face legal consequences for not meeting the deadline? [The Daily Courier invited CWAG President John Zambrano and ADWR Director Herb Guenther to each write a column on this topic. Each column continues onto the second page of the pdf.]

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's column in the Daily Courier, published March 2, 2008.

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2007-09-20 Tapping Big Chino will reduce Verde River flow

Many of us concerned with maintaining continuous flow in the Upper Verde River believe importing groundwater from the Big Chino by Prescott area municipalities will reduce flow in the river by an amount equal to, or nearly equal to, the importation.

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's column in the Daily Courier, published September 20, 2007.

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2007-05-17 Pumping will harm the Upper Verde River

At an April 2007 Prescott City Council meeting discussing the pipeline to import water from the Big Chino, I [column author John Zambrano] cited a U.S. Geological Survey report by Kyle Blasch and others (USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5198) as a sound basis to conclude that importing water will reduce flow in the Upper Verde River. [Zambrano discusses two earlier studies and concludes this column, "The data are available; the sources are authoritative and unbiased. It is past time for the municipalities to accept that importation of groundwater from the Big Chino will affect the Upper Verde River and plan to mitigate before pumping begins."]

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's column in the Daily Courier, published May 17, 2007.

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2007-03-01 Officials muddle water importation debate

In 2006, American Rivers designated the Verde River as one of the nation's 10 most endangered rivers. The endangered portion is the upper 22-mile stretch from the river's confluence with Granite Creek to Perkinsville. Officials have muddled discussion of the endangered Verde by referring to high base flows in the middle portion or the high flows that occur during storms. Those flows are not at issue. 

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's column in the Daily Courier, published March 1, 2007.

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2006-10-07 Water should be treated with caution

A combination of methods can eliminate the mining of groundwater: Water conservation can reduce demand; residents can collect and recharge wastewater to the aquifer; we can import water from sources outside the aquifer; and finally, we could curtail demand for water with policies that limit growth. Of all the methods, limiting population growth has met with great resistance from many public officials throughout the region. [In the years since former CWAG president John Zambrano wrote this column, the City of Prescott has gradually implemented several of the conservation measures he recommended, and wastewater recharge has increased. Nothing has been done to curtail population growth. The Towns of Prescott Valley and Chino Valley have done little in terms of conservation measures. Overall, much remains to be done if we are to achieve a sustainable water future.]

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's column in the Daily Courier, published October 07, 2006.

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2005-09-30 Area facing hard choices for water future

A Sept. 1 [2005] water summit at the Prescott Resort carried the title "Developing a Cooperative Strategy Toward Safe Yield." Unfortunately, this initial summit rates as a disappointment. The political representatives focused on excuses, primarily the well-known problem of exempt wells, and not on the important issues for which they have responsibility. 

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's column in the Daily Courier, published September 30, 2005.

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2020-05-12 Saving water outdoors

The average quad-city area resident uses over 100 gallons of water per day. About one-third of this water is used for landscaping, where it evaporates and cannot be reused. This water can be saved by planting drought-tolerant plants and by irrigating with rainwater harvested in barrels or larger tanks. Drought-tolerant and native plants are beautiful and they are the plants that belong here.

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published May 12, 2020.

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2020-02-04 Prop. 400: Comply or evade?

The City of Prescott is considering a controversial proposal to provide municipal water and sewer to areas outside the city without annexation. The proposal would sidestep the procedures in the Reasonable Growth Initiative (Prop 400). The Citizens Water Advocacy Group (CWAG) evaluates policy based on the effect on the overdraft and consistency with existing city policies, including Prop 400. CWAG opposes policies that accelerate the depletion of the aquifer or weaken compliance with Prop 400.

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published February 4, 2020.

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2019-12-30 Message to elected officials: stop draining our water supply!

During 2019 our elected quad-city area officials continued to promote policies that accelerate the depletion of our water supply, which is dependent on our Prescott-Chino Valley-Prescott Valley-region groundwater.

At the same time, citizens showed their growing concern about the negative impact of major developments on water sustainability. For 2020, citizens need to increase their pressure on elected officials to stop supporting unsustainable water policies.

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published December 30, 2019.

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2019-10-08 Can we save our shared declining water supply?

We are depleting the aquifer that is our primary source of water in the broader Prescott region at an alarming rate. We must fix the problem if we want our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to enjoy living in our high-desert paradise.

To learn more,view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published October 8, 2019.

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2019-09-11 New water polices speed growth

New water policies proposed by the City of Prescott leadership will speed growth, provide water outside of the city without annexation, and increase the overdraft. These new policies depend on “paper water” created by diverting the Groundwater Allowance to new development.

To learn more,view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published September 11, 2019.

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2019-07-27 Four cities, some neighbors, one aquifer: a cautionary tale

A metaphor: Visualize a small group of hikers, lost in the desert with their only water source an open basin of water. They welcome additional stragglers, thinking greater numbers are good. They all hope for replenishing rain. Some rain comes at times but never enough to provide an assured long-term water supply. The end of the tale is painful.

Groundwater from the Prescott Active Management Area (PrAMA) is our major source of water, supporting the needs of the citizens of Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Dewey-Humboldt and unincorporated parts of the PrAMA. This groundwater supplied 82 percent of the water consumed within the PrAMA in 2012, the latest year for which we have data. We are dependent on our groundwater, and we are pumping too much. We are in the process of draining our aquifer.

To learn more,view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published July 27, 2019.

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2019-06-25 Prescott gushes water policies, ignores future water security

The dam has burst. After years of prodding by the Citizens Water Advocacy Group (CWAG), the City of Prescott is flooding us with new data, two studies and several new planned policies.

This deluge may be good news, but CWAG is concerned that the details are not yet known and that the city is ignoring regional responsibilities. Further, CWAG sees potential errors and omissions in the new policies.

To learn more,view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published June 26, 2019.

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2019-05-20 Water management plan a must for long-term security

The Citizens Water Advocacy Group (CWAG) believes that citizens in the Quad-City area must tell their elected officials they want them to begin now to create a water management plan that will produce long-term water security.

To learn more,view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published May 20, 2019.

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2019-04-23 Overcommitted water supply in a warmer drier climate

Accelerated depletion of groundwater in the Prescott Active Management Area (PrAMA) — as well as above the headwaters of the upper Verde River — began in the mid-1990s. Climate analysis for Yavapai County and the Southwestern states gives evidence of a transition to a warmer and drier climate at the same time.

Citizens and government officials should be concerned that our warming and drying climate is now contributing to a diminished water supply.

To learn more,view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published April 23, 2019.

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2019-03-01 Conserving water outdoors

The quad-city area is pumping water from the aquifer much faster than it is being replenished. The impact of this overdraft includes declining water levels in the aquifer and wells drying up in the western part of Chino Valley and in Williamson Valley.

On average, each Prescott resident uses more than 100 gallons of groundwater per day. Approximately one-third of household water consumed is used on landscaping. Citizens can prolong the life of the aquifer by not using groundwater to irrigate landscapes.

To learn more,view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published March 1, 2019.

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2019-02-04 Temporary drought or aridification: Will we thrive?

The Arizona State Climate Office reports, “Arizona is currently in our 21st year of a long-term drought.” Growing evidence suggests that the Southwest is in an extended drier and warmer climate — aridification. If so, an eventual crisis of ever- increasing well failure and insufficient water supply threatens our economy and lifestyle in the Prescott Active Management Area (PrAMA — which includes the municipalities of Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Dewey-Humboldt).

To learn more,view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published February 4, 2019.

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2018-12-14 Water security: are we there yet?

Most of the critical questions about our future water security in the Prescott Active Management Area (PrAMA) have not been satisfactorily answered. And that means, no, we are definitely not “there” yet!

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published December 14, 2018.

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2018-11-10 Water for development often only on paper

Annexation applications by the Deep Well Ranch and Arizona Eco developments have awakened public concern about growth. Area residents ask CWAG (Citizens Water Advocacy Group), “Where does the water come from?”

The answer: Arizona water law exists to serve water to development, despite posturing about a sustainable water supply. This is a prime concern for CWAG, a local science-based organization pursuing a sustainable water future and protection of the upper Verde River.

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published November 10, 2018.

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2018-10-06 Arizona water law destroys rivers

Arizona water laws fundamentally threaten the upper Verde River. There are no existing legal restrictions on groundwater pumping in the Big Chino aquifer, which supplies over 80 percent of the base flow of the upper Verde River.

Current law permits groundwater pumping to threaten Paulden domestic wells and the base flow of the Verde in four ways: expanded agricultural irrigation, groundwater exports such as Prescott’s Big Chino Water Ranch pipeline project, increasing population, and the proposed Big Chino Valley Pumped Storage Project.

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published October 6, 2018.

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2018-06-28 Clean water everyone can help

What’s in the bottles and cans in your garage, or under your kitchen sink? Would you like to drink their contents? In the current drought we tend to focus on water quantity, which we don’t control, and ignore water quality which we do, or at least should, control.

Why should we care about water quality? What can we do?

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published June 28, 2018.

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2018-05-05 Big Chino groundwater essential to upper Verde River streamflow

Extraction of groundwater from the Big Chino Valley, whether to support development in Prescott and Prescott Valley or in the Big Chino Valley itself, will in time diminish the groundwater contribution to perennial flow of the upper Verde River by an amount essentially equal to the amount of groundwater pumped and consumed.

The river’s vitality and its continuous perennial flow are clearly dependent upon human actions with respect to the groundwater system. That vitality is at risk from both current and future human actions.

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published May 5, 2018.

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2018-04-03 More focus needed on saving our local water

The Prescott area is pumping water from its aquifer at approximately twice the rate at which it is replenished. The impact of this overdraft includes declining water levels in the aquifer and wells drying up in the western part of Chino Valley.

About one-third of annual household water used is for landscaping. This water can be saved by planting drought-tolerant plants and by irrigating with rainwater harvested in barrels or larger tanks.

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published April 3, 2018.

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2018-02-27 Potential development threatens Verde River; will we protect it?

Future conversion of agricultural land to residential development in the Big Chino and lower Williamson Valleys, which overlie the Big Chino basin-fill aquifer, could cause the Verde River to be seasonally dry through Perkinsville. Just as it’s important to plan for retirement before we’re elderly, the time for citizens to work for protection of the river is now! 

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published February 27, 2018.

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2018-01-26 Does water conservation promote development

Although water conservation is an important way to reduce groundwater pumping, people often ask, “Why should I conserve water when it will only support more new home building?” This is an important question with a complex answer. 

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published January 26, 2018.

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2017-11-04 Only collaboration will keep Verde River flowing

The Verde River is one of the last remaining healthy, perennially flowing rivers left in the arid state of Arizona. The Verde River system, including its connected streams, creeks, and groundwater resources, supports the economies of rural communities and businesses both as a vital water supply and as a driver of tourism and recreation. There are long-term threats, however, to the health of the Verde River. 

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published November 4, 2017.

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2017-10-07 4 things you can do about Deep Well Ranch, AED

With the prospect of thousands of additional residents in Prescott’s future, CWAG is concerned about further overextending our water supply. You should be, too. Public input is helping to improve the Deep Well Master Plan and can help shape the Arizona Eco  development. Read this article to learn the water facts about both developments and what you can do.

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published October 7, 2017.

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2017-09-02 Whatever happened to safe yield

In 2007 the Citizen’s Water Advocacy Group (CWAG) board of directors approved this position about the future formation of a regional water district: “CWAG encourages the development of a district or districts in order to help reach safe yield in the Prescott Active Management Area and to preserve the flow of the Upper Verde River.”

It is now 2017 and there is not yet a “jurisdictional” authority working to achieve safe yield. Demand for groundwater continues to increase. The year 2025 looms. It is time for the Coalition to initiate the actions that will result in the creation of a jurisdictional organization that can find a solution for the safe yield problem. 

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published September 2, 2017.

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2017-07-28 Candidates should know 5 essential water facts

With so much attention focused on Prescott’s Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) debt in the approaching Prescott City Council election, it’s easy to forget the new council will be setting critical water policy during their time in office.

Over the next four years, city staff will provide council with information and advice on technical issues, but council members make all final decisions on water policy. To do that competently, they must know some essential facts. 

To learn more, view a pdf of CWAG's monthly column in the Daily Courier, published July 28, 2017.

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