It Happened Last Week The one and only Mayor Jackie Meck, was our speaker on June 20. The subject was Colorado River Water - What is next? Here are some facts we learned at the meeting. - There are two type of water. (1) Wet Water. (2) No Water.
- The Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District delivers 130,000 acre feet of water to 17,000 acres of farmland. For reference an acre foot is 326,000 gallons and will serve between 3 and 4 single family households.
- The invasive Salt Cedar species which lines the Gila River for 18 miles, absorb 50,00 acre feet of water per year.
- 70% of Arizona water usage today is for farming
- 36% of Arizona's landmass is devoted to farming and livestock
- The Colorado River Compact was signed in 1922 among the federal government and the lower basin states of California, Arizona and Nevada. This year these states agreed to leave 3 million acre feet of water in Lake Mead to help stabilize the lake.
- Since 1922 more water has been drawn from the Colorado River than it can sustain due to unrealistic expectations. Over the past 20 years Colorado River flow has been between 4.4 million acre feet and 22 million acre feet, for an average of 17 million acre feet. 22 million acre feet is currently alloted from the CR Compact.
- 51% of Colorado River is alloted to Indian tribes.
- The Saudi's are currently growing alfalfa in Arizona to feed their horses since growing alfalfa is not legal in Saudi Arabia. Efforts are underway to stop the exploitation of Arizona water by foreign entities.
- All currently approved developments in Buckeye have a proven 100 year water supply, as required by law.
Water is a tremendously complicated subject not easily reduced to a 30 second campaign statement. Arizona has always been challenged by the scarcity of water but technology in water re-use and conservation has made very significant strides over the years and those strides will no doubt continue. Thank you to Mayor Meck for an interesting, timely and thoughtful presentation. And remember. There are two kinds of water. Wet Water and No Water. |
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