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

Description

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.