water management & conservation in arizona
TRANSCRIPT
Water Management & Conservation in Arizona
Arizona Housing ForumAug. 21, 2019
Einav HenensonActive Management Area Section Director
Points to Cover
1. Arizona’s Water Management & Water Use
2. Drought Conditions
3. Water Conservation Practices• Arizona Friendly Landscape
• Green Infrastructure
• Landscape Practices
• Irrigation Efficiencies
Water Management &
Water Use in Arizona
Arizona’s Water Use By Sector
Arizona’s Water Budget
1980 Groundwater Management Act
Issue: Severe groundwater depletion Approach: collaborate among different sectors and stakeholders Goals:• Control severe groundwater depletion• Improve groundwater supplies through conservation and development of
additional water supplies • Provide the means for allocating Arizona's limited groundwater resourcesSolution: Groundwater Management Act
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Former Arizona Governor and Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt signing the GMA
1980 Groundwater Management Act
• Formed the Arizona Department of Water Resources
• Developed goals to control severe groundwater depletion
• Established Active Management Areas (AMAs) & Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas (INAs)
• Established water conservation regulations for water users & providers
Groundwater Regulatory Structure
• Registration of all wells• Adequate Water Supply• Community Water Systems
Documentation
+• Expansion of irrigated acres is prohibited• Monitoring and Reporting
+• Assured Water Supply• Management Goals, Plans, & Conservation Programs• Withdrawal Fees
INA
AMA
Statewide
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Doctrine of Prior Appropriation governs use• “First in Time, First in Right”• Senior Water Right Holders must be
fully satisfied before water is available to Junior Rights
• Water must be put to beneficial use
Surface Water
Lake Powell
Colorado River
Surface Water:“waters of all sources, flowing in streams, canyons, ravines or other natural channels, or in definite underground channels, whether perennial or intermittent, floodwaters, wastewater, or surplus water, and of lakes, ponds, and springs on the surface” (A.R.S. § 45-141)
Colorado River Water
• The Colorado River is shared between 7 states & Mexicoo Upper Basin: Wyoming, Colorado,
Utah, New Mexicoo Lower Basin: Arizona, California, Utah
• Drought conditions on the Colorado River Basin since 2000 lead to drought contingency planning to protect Lake Powel and Lake Mead
• Collective action, among all the 7 Basin States, the United States, and Mexico, reduces risks to everyone
• DCP reduces the risk of the river system to decline to critically low levels and protects our water supply
Drought Contingency Plan Recap
Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan• ADWR & CAWCD jointly hosted 9 public Steering
Committee meetings to discuss & recommend how to adopt and implement the LBDCP in a way that is acceptable to Arizona water users
• January 31 – Arizona Legislature passed & Gov. Ducey signed SB 1227 The legislation authorized ADWR Director to sign the
Interstate DCP Agreements on behalf of Arizona
Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan• March 27 & 28 – Reclamation & Colorado River Basin
representatives testified at U.S. subcommittee hearings at the Senate (subcommittee chaired by AZ Sen. McSally) & the House (subcommittee chaired by Rep. Huffman; full committee chaired by AZ Rep. Grijalva)
• April 8 – Bill passed after announced by Sen. McSally & Rep. Grijalva
• April 16 – Signed by President Trump• May 20 – Signed & finalized by Basin States, Reclamation
& Interior
• 100- year Adequate Water Supply demonstration:oWater Adequacy Reports, oroServiced by water provider with Designation of Adequate
Supply
• Established in 1973 as a Consumer advisory programoPlats can be approved with inadequate determinationoDisclosure of inadequate water supply required to first
buyer
• Local governments can require adequacyoYuma County, Cochise County, Patagonia, Clarkdale
ADEQUATE Water Supply
• Inside AMAs
• Established 1980; adopted 1995
• 100-year AWS Demonstration:
oCertificate of Assured Supply, or
oCommitment of Service by a water provider with Designation of Assured Supply
• AWS is required for ADRE to issue Subdivision Public Report
ASSURED Water Supply
Arizona Water Banking Authority
• Established 1996
• Stores unused Colorado River water to be used in times of shortage
• Bank stored 3.65 Million acre-feet (1.2 trillion gallons)
Water Banking & Recharge in Arizona
Arizona Water Users Save Water for Non-Rainy Days
Watershed Management
Northern Arizona Forest Fund
• 24 Arizona Partners
• Invested over $2.5 million over 4 years across 5 National Forests
• Completed 21 restoration projects
• Over 200 volunteers engaged, donating over 1500 hours
• Employed 70 youth, granted to 11 nonprofits, and hired 9 local contractors
NAFF Measurable Benefits in 2017
• Removal of 185,000 trees on 823 acres
• Fire risk reduced by 27% on 3,500 acres
• Sediment reduced by 31 tons on 37 miles of roads and trails
• Replenished 2.3 million gallons of water
Landscape Accomplishments in 2015-2018• Over 11,000 acres of fuels reduction
projects
• Over 4,000 native trees and shrubs planted
• Over 2,500 acres of stream, spring and wetland protection
• Over 130 miles of erosion control and drainage improvement
Watershed Management
Arizona’s Water Management Success
Population increased 6 foldGross domestic income increased 19 foldWater consumption reduced 100,000 acre-feet
Arizona’s Water Resource ChallengesDriving Forces• Arizona has been experiencing long-term drought
since the mid-90s• Population & economic growth will increase demand
for water
Short-term Challenges• Risks to Colorado River Supply Shortage on the Colorado River System is likely at
some point Recurring Lower Basin Annual Deficit
Medium-term Challenges• Water resources in rural areas of the state are more
stressed Primary water source is groundwater Lack of groundwater regulation Lack of groundwater data Lack the resources to address their issues
Long-term Challenges• Growing statewide imbalance between existing water
supplies and demand projected in the next 25 years and 50 years
Drought
Drought History in Arizona
1950s Drought
1900s Drought
Current Drought (from mid-late 1990s)
3 Severe Droughts in the 20th Century!
• Arizona has been in some state of long-term drought since mid-90s.
• One good winter is not enough to alleviate Arizona’s long-term drought conditions, which had been building up for many years, especially in a warming climate.
• It will take several consecutive years of above-average precipitation to overcome the deficits of the long-term drought.
Current Long-term Drought Conditions
Long-term Drought Map April – June 2019
Water Conservation Practices
• Arizona-Friendly Landscape• Green Infrastructure• Landscape Practices• Irrigation Efficiencies
What is Xeriscape?
Arizona Friendly Landscape aka Low-Water-Use Plants
aka Xeriscape
Xeriscape = Low Water Use LandscapeIt’s NOT ZEROscape!
Why Arizona-Friendly Landscape?
8,000gal/yr for 500 ft2 of
lawn
2,500gal/yr for 500 ft2 of
Xeriscape
Up to 70% of your water is used outdoors!
Low Water Use / Drought Tolerant Plant Lists
• Trees• Shrubs• Grasses• Succulents• Groundcovers• Vines• Flowers
More than 150 species of
Treesrepresenting ~ 60 genera
https://new.azwater.gov/conservation/landscaping
Low Water Use / Drought Tolerant Plant Lists
Benefits of Arizona-Friendly Landscape
1. Saves water2. Saves money3. Saves energy4. Low maintenance5. Reduces waste6. Supports native wildlife7. Reduces chemical use8. Preserves air & water quality 9. Sets an example 10. Looks beautiful
Top 10 Benefits:
Green Infrastructure
Curb cuts
Green Infrastructure:The use of vegetation, soils, and natural processes to manage water and create healthier urban environments. (EPA.gov)
Permeable materials
Consider these when renovating your yard or for new construction
Rain Gardens
Green Infrastructure-
From Convex to Concave Planting Beds
Image: Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond / Brad Lancaster
“A landscape on the wasteful path to water scarcity”
“A landscape on the stewardship path to hydrated abundance”
Landscape Practices
Don’t:• Don’t top• Don’t shear• Don’t strip• Don’t overplant
Do:• Right Plant in the Right Place!• Use mulch & leave organic
matter in the beds• Use irrigation efficiently and
effectively
Landscape Practices
www.smartscape.org
Hire a Trained Professional!
International Society of Arboriculture
www.isa-arbor.com
Irrigation Efficiencies
What can you do:• Water between dusk and dawn
• Use automatic nozzles
• Avoid runoff and watering
sidewalks & roads
• Shut off irrigation after rain
• Install smart irrigation controller
• Identify and fix leaks
Resources Available to You
Rebates for Turf Converted to Xeriscape
Free Educational Materials
http://www.amwua.org/landscape
• Scottsdale- Up to $1,500• Peoria- Up to $1,650• Tempe- Up to $500• See if your city offers rebates!
Free Programs • Classes offered by your city• Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens• Drab-to-Fab video Series
Water Conservation Websites
www.ArizonaWaterFacts.com https://wateruseitwisely.com
https://new.azwater.gov/conservation
Remember…
• Know the regulations, ordinances, and incentives that pertain to your community
• Start with water conservation practices best suited to you & easiest to implement
• Communicate with & educate your landscapers to receive best bang for your buck
• Don’t reinvent the wheel! Look for free programs & materials to help you conserve water (and money!)
