Arizona Archives

Arizona Changes ‘Use It or Lose It’ Water Law

February 25, 2021/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AZPM News (Arizona Public Media)by Ariana Brocious

A change in Arizona water law will let farmers and ranchers conserve water without worrying about losing their rights to it in the future.

Like most western states, Arizona water rights are “use it or lose it,” meaning that if farmers or ranchers don’t use their full amount for a certain number of years they risk forfeiting their rights forever. Kim Mitchell, senior water policy advisor with Western Resource Advocates, said that disincentivizes conservation at a time when we increasingly need more of it.

“We’re on the heels of 20 years of drought and now we have these recent commitments to divert less water from the Colorado River. And annual flow in many of our water courses have been decreasing with climate change and the drought that continues to grip the region,” Mitchell said.

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How Does a State Use 40 Percent Less Water?

February 25, 2021/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /The New Republicby Nick Martin

A recent study found that if the Colorado River drought continues, Arizona, California, and Nevada may have to cut their water usage by nearly half. Acceptance is the first step.

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Opinion: If We Want to Keep Arizona’s Endangered Rivers Flowing, this Water Law Must Change

February 17, 2021/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /AZ Centralby Kristen Wolfe

There is much to see and appreciate in Arizona’s natural resources. Water flowing through washes, creeks, rivers and springs sustains life in this hot, dry state. Protecting these waterways, crucial to all life in a desert environment, is an important priority for most Arizonans.

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Opinion: Why is Arizona Growing When Groundwater is Shrinking? We’re Finally Having This Debate

February 12, 2021/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /AZ Centralby Joanna Allhands

If our water supply is dwindling, why is Arizona still growing?

I get this question almost every time I write about groundwater. Readers say we should be doing a lot more to slow – or even cut off – the construction of new homes and farms.

That’s not likely to happen any time soon. But smart people are diving into the weeds of how we use this finite resource to fuel growth, and that makes me cautiously optimistic.

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Tensions Rise Over Company’s Plan to Sell Colorado River Water in Arizona

February 1, 2021/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Arizona Republicby Ian James

Mayors and county supervisors in towns along the Colorado River were already upset five months ago when the state water agency endorsed an investment company’s plan to take water from farmland near the river and sell it to a growing Phoenix suburb.

Now, they’re incensed that the agency, which initially suggested holding back a large portion of the water, changed its stance and will let the company sell most of the water to the town of Queen Creek.

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Drought Keeps Lake Mead Levels Low, But There is Plenty of Winter Left

December 17, 2020/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /KJZZby Ron Dungan

Last week’s storm did little to ease the drought in Arizona’s reservoirs. But there’s still plenty of winter left.

The Bureau of Reclamation makes two-year projections, based on weather and water levels in Colorado River reservoirs, and its most recent projections have been dire.

That could set the stage for an Arizona water shortage in 2022. Snowpack in the mountains is now 69% of normal, but Patti Aaron, a spokeswoman for the bureau, says a little snow could go a long way.

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Opinion: What Happens if Some of the Most Secure Water in Arizona Comes Up For Grabs?

December 7, 2020/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Arizona Republic by Joanna Allhands

Imagine that you had a bunch of Colorado River water.

Water with some of the most senior rights in the state. The river would have to be virtually dry before your supply was cut.

Now imagine that by fallowing some land and installing more efficient irrigation, you think you can free up a decent chunk of this highly coveted water to lease to others who are in desperate need of more renewable supplies.

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Colorado River Indian Tribes Want to Lease Water for Non-Tribal Use

December 1, 2020/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /Fronterasby Katherine Davis-Young

The Colorado River Indian Tribes on the western edge of Arizona have the largest share of first-priority Colorado River water rights in the state. Now, the tribal council is proposing to lease some of its water for non-tribal use. Colorado River Indian Tribes chairman Dennis Patch thinks tribal water can be a valuable tool in Arizona drought mitigation.

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Opinion: One More Warm, Dry Winter Could Spell Shortage for Lake Mead (and Trouble for Arizona)

November 25, 2020/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Arizona Republic by Joanna Allhands

This warm, dry weather we’ve been having may be good for moving activities outside.

But it’s bad news for our water supply.

The chances are growing – and quickly – that a warm, dry winter could push Lake Powell to a trigger point about a year from now that could result in significantly less water for Lake Mead, which supplies about 40% of Arizona’s water supply.

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A Desert City Tries to Save Itself with Rain

November 24, 2020/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Bloomberg CityLabby Chris Malloy

In an average year, Brad Lancaster can harvest enough rain to meet 95% of his water needs. Roof runoff collected in tanks on his modest lot in Tucson, Arizona — where 100 degree days are common in the summer months — provides what he needs to bathe, cook and drink.

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