Overview of the Governors Water Initiative Central Arizona Water - PDF document

Agenda Number 3. Overview of the Governor’s Water Initiative Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board Meeting November 5, 2015 Thomas Buschatzke, Director Arizona Department of Water Resources Arizona Strategic Vision for Water Supply Sustainability • Published in January 2014 • Purpose: To identify strategies to help address Arizona’s future water needs and provide a stable economy for the future  Used existing information  Identified local options first  Identified priority strategies Conclusion: Ultimately, the State of Arizona is not facing an • immediate water crisis  Growing statewide imbalance between existing water supplies and demand projected in the next 25 years  There are some local areas that require more immediate action  The lack of an immediate problem increases the potential for inaction 1

Arizona Strategic Vision Identification & Analysis of Supply/Demand Imbalances Water Supply and Demand Analysis Arizona (2010) • Total statewide demands • Current ‐ 6.9 MAF Water Resources • 2035 ‐ 8.1 MAF Development • 2110 ‐ 10.6 MAF Commission • Projected imbalance between 900,000 and 3.2 MAF over the next 25 to 100 years Reclamation (2012) • Colorado River Basin ‐ Wide average imbalance of 3.2 MAF by 2060 Colorado River • Arizona’s projected imbalance between 260,000 Basin Water Supply to 1.4 MAF by 2060 & Demand Study • Regional Strategies  Identification & Analysis of “Planning Areas” • Statewide Priorities  Common Strategies Across the State 2

Water Supply Opportunities • Non ‐ Indian Agricultural (NIA) Priority CAP water • Reclaimed Water/Water Reuse  50% of projected imbalance can be met with maximized use of reclaimed water • Groundwater in storage  Potable, poor quality & brackish supplies • Water Supply Development  Revised Watershed Management Practices  Weather modification  Rainwater Harvesting/Stormwater Capture (large ‐ scale or macro) • Importation or Exchange of New Water Supplies Developed Outside of Arizona (e.g., Ocean Desalination) Strategic Priorities • Resolution of Federal and Non ‐ Federal Water Rights Claims  General Stream Adjudication  Indian Water Rights Settlements • Continued Commitment to Water Conservation & Reuse of Reclaimed Water – Including Direct Potable Reuse • Comprehensive Statewide Data Collection & Analysis (Modeling Local Conditions) • Identify the Role of In ‐ State Water Transfers • Supply Importation ‐ Desalination • Funding  Business leaders, Community and State leaders  Rural Infrastructure 3

Governor’s New Water Initiative • Governor Ducey announced a new water initiative “through ADWR to help ensure the certainty and vitality of Arizona’s water supply long into the future”  Announcement made on October 5, 2015  Continues the work published in the Strategic Vision  Initiative involves two parallel tracks… Governor’s Water Initiative First Track First track: • Prioritize and evaluate all of the 22 Planning Areas identified in the Strategic Vision • ADWR will work closely with 22 Planning Areas individually to refine water supply and demand issues and identify strategies to meet future water demands.  Cochise Planning Area is the first target Planning Area  ADWR is working on prioritizing the other Planning Areas • ADWR has been authorized to hire 3 new full time employees for this track  2 ‐ Water Resource Planners  1 ‐ Hydrologist 4

Governor’s Water Initiative Second Track Second track: • Governor will appoint a team to investigate long ‐ term augmentation strategies, explore additional water conservation opportunities and identify infrastructure needs  Team will be led by ADWR Director  Team report back to the Governor with policy direction or statutory changes  Annual progress report will be due June 30 th • ADWR has been authorized to hire 2 new full time Water Resource Planners Questions? Thomas Buschatzke Director Phone: 602.771.8426 Email: tbuschatzke@azwater.gov Website: www.azwater.gov 5