U.S. Water News Online
PHOENIX -- Arizona needs to adopt a "culture of conservation'' but there's no reason to panic because of the possibility of a shortage of Colorado River water, Gov. Janet Napolitano said.
Reacting to a top U.S. Interior Department official's recent statement that the agency could declare a shortage of river water within two or three years if a years-long drought continues, Napolitano said her administration is staying on top of the future of Arizona's water.
A shortage declaration could force a cut in water drawn from the river and Arizona would be first in line among Colorado River states to have part of its allotment disappear.
The Central Arizona Project aqueduct transports Colorado River water to cities and other users in central and southern Arizona. Arizona cities also use pumped groundwater and runoff water stored in reservoirs.
Napolitano noted during a news conference that no shortage has been declared yet, and she said the effect of a shortage declaration would not be felt for a year.
The governor said a state task force is preparing recommendations on coping with the drought and that Arizona already can drawn on underground stored "water bank'' reserves if a shortage is declared.
"We do have a plan in place,'' she said. "I've been looking into this situation. For the short term, this is not a matter for panic. We are well aware of what's happening on the Colorado.''
Napolitano said the state is "far away'' from having to impose growth restrictions because of water supply issues.
"Nonetheless ... we need to start believing in a culture of conservation so that we can make better use of the waters that we have,'' she said.
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