House Engrossed

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fourth Legislature First Regular Session 2019

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 2019

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

expressing support for proper water and forest management policies in national forest service lands.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, Arizona has long been at the forefront among Western states in developing and implementing pioneering, well-reasoned water management policies; and

Whereas, through the efforts of many exemplary governmental, civic and community leaders, Arizona has enacted numerous programs and supported many projects, either through legislation or otherwise, that were designed to secure Arizona's water supplies and to ensure the wise use and stewardship of those supplies for the future, including:

1.  The establishment of the Salt River Project by farmers in 1903, pledging their lands to construct the Roosevelt Dam as one of the nation's first Reclamation projects in 1911 and to provide a secure water and electricity supply in support of expanding agricultural production and a burgeoning economy.

2.  The passage of legislation in 1971 to provide for the establishment of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District to repay the federal government for the Central Arizona Project.  Arizona State Representative Stan Turley and Arizona State Senator Ray Goetze, chairmen of the House of Representatives and Senate natural resource committees, respectively, participated in meetings with the federal government regarding the potential structure and operation of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District before enactment of this legislation.

3.  The passage of legislation in 1980 to establish the Groundwater Management Act and to create the Department of Water Resources.  This legislation was enacted after countless meetings and deliberations over at least a three-year period.

4.  The passage of legislation in 1986 to provide for the underground storage of water for future uses, with additional provisions enacted in 1994.

5.  The passage of legislation in 1993 to create the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District as a mechanism to provide for additional water supplies.

6.  The passage of legislation in 1996 to create the Arizona Water Banking Authority to help ensure full use of Arizona's share of the Colorado River.

7.  The passage of legislation in 2012 and 2017 to authorize Arizona to participate in Minutes 319 and 323 to the 1944 Treaty with Mexico regarding the use of Colorado River water.

8.  The passage of legislation in 2019 to authorize Arizona to participate in the drought contingency plan among the seven basin states of the Colorado River.  These successful conservation efforts included the participation of many parties, including representatives of tribes, cities, agricultural users, nongovernmental organizations, water users on the Colorado River, the United States and the State of Arizona; and

Whereas, due to these many proactive measures that Arizona has already enacted and implemented, this state uses less water today than in the 1950s, despite a population growth of nearly five hundred percent; and

Whereas, this state has more recently participated in and recognized these additional landmarks in Arizona's water efforts:

1.  The 2017 celebration by the Salt River Project of the 100 year anniversary of the United States Bureau of Reclamation's transfer of operational control of the Salt River Valley Reclamation Project to the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association.

2.  The 2018 celebration of the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the Colorado River Basin Project Act, which authorized the construction of the Central Arizona Project.

3.  The signing of a system use agreement in 2017 between the Central Arizona Water Conservation District and the United States Bureau of Reclamation to allow Central Arizona Project infrastructure to be used in more efficient and innovative ways, including the transport of non‑Central Arizona Project water through the system.  These and other similar innovative measures are crucial to the success of efforts to manage risks from drought and shortages on the Colorado River.

4.  The protection of Lake Mead by way of system conservation during 2012 to the present during a period of drought and despite the structural deficit on the Colorado River.  The Central Arizona Water Conservation District's system conservation has provided for more than 700,000 acre‑feet of water to be left in Lake Mead during that period, amounting to approximately 10 feet in elevation of the lake, and helping to avert a shortage, with nearly 150,000 acre-feet planned for additional conservation during 2019; and

Whereas, this foundation of successful water policies and water management has provided a basis and a blueprint for this state to achieve more with respect to Arizona's current and future water challenges, including:

1.  The renegotiation of the 2007 Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages in advance of the Guidelines' expiration at the end of 2025.

2.  The resolution of issues involving the expiration of extinguishment credits in the Pinal Active Management Area.

3.  The development of a desalination plan for brackish water as a means to provide additional sources of water in this state.

4.  The development of a fifth and sixth management plan under the Groundwater Management Act for water users in the active management areas of this state.

5.  The development of a storm water management program.

6.  The development of a better forest management program that addresses water conservation and forest health; and

Whereas, recognizing the value of preexisting water rights, the Arizona Constitution provides that all existing rights to the use of any of the waters in this state for all useful or beneficial purposes are hereby recognized and preserved; and

Whereas, the Arizona Territorial Legislature recognized the value and importance of protected and well-managed forests in the watershed to Arizona's ability to become a state; and

Whereas, sound scientific solutions, both short-term and long-term, are needed to end forest gridlock and improve the health of both our forests and our state's economy.  Inconsistent and overreaching forest management policies must be replaced by a common-sense policy to make America's forests thrive again.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

1.  That the Members of the Legislature continue this tradition of leadership and support for appropriate water management practices and policies that protect property and water rights and that provide for the continued safety and prosperity of the State of Arizona.

2.  That the Members of the Legislature express their support of a reasonable and prudent multiple-use forest management policy to improve our nation's forest health.