Shoeleather Journalism in the Digital Age

Shoeleather Journalism
in the Digital Age

Realities of Arizona water rights spur Scottsdale Water conservation

Scottsdale Water presents first blush look at contemplated restrictions
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press

The Phoenix metropolitan area — and, in whole, the Grand Canyon State — experienced a cold and wet winter, but the truth is water policy experts are reporting dire natural implications of historic drought conditions impacting what policymakers call, ‘the lower basin states.’

These seven states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — rely significantly upon water allocations provided by the flow of the Colorado River.

From a federal perspective, the lower basin states have been charged with cutting back between 2- and 5-million-acre feet of water, according to Bureau of Reclamation leadership, which is speaking to tenets of the Colorado River Compact and conditions of water levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell.

An acre foot of water equates to the amount of water it would take to flood one acre to a depth of one foot, a basic definition reads.

The Colorado River Compact — first agreed in terms in the year 1922 — is the formal agreement between the seven states wholly dependent on its water flow for things like agriculture, construction & development as well sustainability of life in arid environments.

“Things have been changing,” said Scottsdale Water Policy Manager Gretchen Baumgardner, who on Tuesday, April 25, provided a litany of information to Scottsdale City Council regarding the fluid state of Arizona water rights, policy and projections.

“Most of what we are going to talk about — what you will read in the papers — is obviously this has been an amazing winter … It has been an amazing cold and wet winter. Absolutely. It does give us a little bit of respite of what we have been going through.”

But make no mistake, Ms. Baumgardner explains data shows, the system on which residents rely is at 26% of capacity.

“The system is still doing what it has done for the last 22 years,” she said of drought conditions still at the forefront of the minds of municipal leaders at City Hall. “We are at about 150% of the 30 year-median snowpack, this is a great news story for this year. But water levels at Lake Mead have dramatically decreased over the last 22 years. But we are getting a reprieve for this year.”

All of these data points, Ms. Baumgardner explained to Scottsdale City Council, are key factors spurring what appears to be water restrictions — things like what time you can and cannot water your lawn or what landscapes can be built with new single-family homes — set to materialize at the local dais in coming months.

Ms. Baumgardner offered compelling testimony during the study session discussion that negotiations at the state and federal level have the potential to dictate water restrictions based on availability.

“It is hundreds of years of agreements upon agreements,” she said of the myriad formal water agreements for one water source serving seven states. “Continued preparations for significant reductions on the Colorado River for Arizona and the Central Arizona Project should continue on with the same urgency that has led to this point and beyond.”

Ms. Baumgardner explains Bureau of Reclamation officials say a decision will occur in 2024 on how water allocations will shift that may directly impact Arizona allocations from the Central Arizona Project, the domestic water pipeline funneling Colorado River water.

As of April 27, discussions are underway between the seven basin states to determine a consensus of collaboration to absorbed needed cuts to water allocations, Scottsdale Water officials report.

The ‘Law of the River’ is No. 1 guidepost

While Ms. Baumgardner explains the 1922 agreement between the lower basin states has gone through several amendments, iterations and reinterpretations, one rule has remained constant — the seniority nature of the ‘Law of the River.’

“The law of western water is based on priority. If you are a junior right holder, you get cut from the system, that is the ‘Law of the River.’ This means zero water,” she said of three drastic scenarios that have emerged at the federal level.

“This is a modeling exercise. Both of the scenarios are very drastic. Both of these scenarios are meant to be bookends; both of those scenarios are meant to be conversation pieces between what the media is painting as ‘California v. Arizona.’ There are 40 million people who rely on this river. No one wants the CAP to run dry. One wet year does not save us, but it does buy us some more time.”

Ms. Baumgardner explains she anticipates thoughtful negotiations to emerge at the state level as millions of Americans depend on this water source.

“We all share this river, it is the lifeblood of the seven basin states,” she said of the gravity of the ongoing water delivery discussions. “We hope to develop a stronger ethic of water usage in Scottsdale.”

Following Ms. Baumgardner’s overview of water levels at major water sources — Lake Mead, Lake Powell and Colorado waters — a handful of potential water restrictions were presented to Scottsdale City Council.

Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega at City Hall. (Photo: Arianna Grainey/DigitalFreePress.com)
Potential Scottsdale water restrictions

Found part of the April 25 report to City Council are proposed restrictions to be considered, which carry out the marching orders of an October 2022 memorandum of understanding by and among Colorado River Basin Municipal and Public Water providers. Those items include:

  • Watering time restrictions
  • Strip and non- functional turf reductions
  • Front lawn restrictions on new homes
  • Further grass restrictions on commercial customers
  • SFR swimming pool size limitations
  • WaterSmart portal automation
  • Commercial cooling tower efficiency controller requirements
  • Limits on sewer charge adjustments
  • Reduce threshold for Principle 4 of the Scottsdale’ s Sustainable Water Management Principles

“The state of Arizona and Scottsdale have a long history of conservation and planning for a desert environment,” Ms. Baumgardner said in her report to City Council. “However, in the face of continued stress on our water resources it is imperative that further innovative conservation programs and a stronger conservation culture be at the forefront of how we march into the future.”

Scottsdale Councilwoman Tammy Caputi says the water departments presents a compelling argument.

“Of course, the situation is dire and we do live in a desert, I would support any and all ideas our water department comes up with,” she said following brief discussion commenced by Councilwoman Betty Janik. “Whatever we can do to conserve water I would be supportive.”

Each member of Scottsdale City Council say they agree with exploring each measure with detailed, quantitative information to come back to the local governing board.

“We are talking about an ordinance, punishment, surveillance and that is a whole another conversation,” Councilman Barry Graham said of the enforcement of any rules Scottsdale City Council could entertain.

Councilwoman Janik responded to Councilman Graham’s statement agreeing with the idea of staff coming back with much more detailed options for consideration.

“I think what you are asking for is more data and I think that is very reasonable,” she said. “A lot of this is just a very reasonable common sense approach.”

Category Sponsor

Learn About the Author

Published On:

Category Sponsor

FastTrack_F23_336x280 (1)

Newsletter Sign Up

Scottsdale Daily Beat - Logo

Could we interest you in Community Updates? How about Enterprise Business Reporting & Real Property & Homes?

SUSD Ad
Leon Law
Honor Health
Cover_Spring-2024-SUSD-Showcase-magazine
Experience Scottsdale September 2024