U.S. Water News Online
PHOENIX -- After 18 months of study, a task force appointed by Gov. Janet Napolitano has approved reports on ways the state can cope with the current drought as well as a plan for future water shortages.
Key elements include establishing a new drought monitoring system, setting up systems to trigger drought responses, creating a new state office to implement conservation programs, imposing mandatory water cutbacks for state agencies and universities, and a requirement that cities and other water providers adopt drought contingency plans.
Some steps recommended by the Governor's Drought Task Force in a package of water conservation and drought plans would take effect according to drought stages, and some would take effect only with legislative approval.
The task force will send its reports to Napolitano, who appointed the group in March 2003. She plans to make a major address on water policy issues on Nov. 1.
Before then, Water Resources Director Herb Guenther said state officials will determine whether Arizona's drought is now moderate or severe according to the plan's proposed criteria. That finding likely will vary by region, depending on local conditions, he said.
The five stages would range from normal to exceptional drought. Temperature, precipitation, stream flow and groundwater levels are among measurements that will help determine the stages.
Napolitano said in May that Arizona needs to adopt a "culture of conservation'' though she said the state is "far away'' from having to impose growth restrictions because of water supply issues.
The task force said the most urgent need for drought planning is in fast-growing rural communities were water supplies are very limited and where the economic pillars of recreation, ranching, forestry and tourism are extremely sensitive to drought.
Though the plan allows flexibility to avoid a cookie-cutter approach statewide, all communities will need to plan ways to combat drought, task force members said.
The task force agreed early on with calls from water providers that decisions to impose water conservation measures be made at the local level. But the task force agreed to strengthen a draft version to reflect the severity of the drought.
"We need to give municipalities and local people the ability, at least early on, to work it out themselves,'' said state Rep. Tom O'Halleran, a task force member and Sedona Republican.
Guenther said the state would provide examples of conservation plans for local governments and providers to consult. "The mandate is to have a conservation plan that is tailored for your particular community,'' Guenther said.
The plans by cities and other providers would affect both individuals and businesses. Such plans, already in place in some communities, could include such steps as restricting lawn planting and watering and banning outdoor misters, the task force said.
The drought is now in its ninth year in most parts of Arizona, and has shown no indication of easing. Weather experts said the summer monsoon was one of the weakest in years, though runoff from winter snows plays a bigger role in filling reservoirs.
Signs of the state's 9-year-old drought include federal warnings of a possible declaration of shortage of Colorado River water -- illustrated by a 35-foot extension of a boat ramp at Lake Powell to reach receding waters -- and the Salt River Project's recent decision to continue reduced water deliveries to cities and agricultural districts for the third straight year due to low spring runoff.
The task force said drought is serious business, citing decreased power production, health problems resulting from higher dust levels, degradation of water quality and threats to outdoor recreation.
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