None The Nature Conservancy in Arizona Press Releases Search All Press Releases Tamera Skrovan Phone: (602) 322-6996 E-Mail: tskrovan@tnc.org

Governor’s Water Listening Session/Tucson

Tuesday, December 14, 2004

 

MEDIA FACT SHEET

 

The following comments are by Holly Richter, Upper San Pedro Program Manager, The Nature Conservancy in Arizona:

 

Long-Range Water Policy Issues/Recommendations*

• In most parts of Arizona, we are over-dependent on groundwater.
• Failure to adequately manage Arizona’s new growth jeopardizes the reliability of water supplies for existing residents and economic drivers, as well as our rivers.
• Rural communities need additional growth management tools in order to balance the sustainable use of water resources with rapidly growing populations.
• In the face of both rapid population growth and extended drought, rural communities in Arizona need to make some tough water management decisions relatively quickly.

Southern Arizona Recommendations

• Rural Arizona communities need tools such as:

• the ability to manage water use and resources on a regional basis outside of Active Management Areas
• authority to manage proposed development based on sustainable water supplies
• authority to establish transfer of development rights (TDR) programs
• authority to control wildcat subdivisions and lot splits
• Private water companies need the ability to request water surcharges for excessive water use in rural areas
• ADWR has a pivotal role to play statewide by providing information from which sound water management decisions can be made, but requires additional funding to fulfill its mission

  

*See attached map titled “Loss of Natural Flow in Arizona’s Streams—Statistics” (.pdf, 570 KB) which shows that overall, 35% of free-flowing perennial miles have been lost from Arizona’s rivers, creeks and streams.  (Note that “lost” means formerly perennial streams that are now dry and those that are now regulated in their flows due to dam construction.)