Doug Blackwell

Sedona no longer first on water chain

Flagstaff and Williams get first dibs

By Doug Blackwell, Environmental Columnist |
Sedona Verde Valley Times

Sedona, AZ - Once upon a time, Sedona was at the top of the Coconino Aquifer water chain. Our city was first in line with no one above us having access to our water supply.

That was then, but now there are others dipping into our well -- nearly 100,000 people living along the Mogollon Rim.

The Coconino Aquifer drops into our corner of the Verde Valley from the Colorado Plateau along the Mogollon Rim, meanders south and west under us, then through Page Springs, Cottonwood, Cornville, and Camp Verde.

The aquifer runs thousands of feet beneath the cities of Flagstaff and Williams. As Flagstaff's and Williams's water supplies dry up, they are drilling down into the aquifer. The new wells are 3,000 to 4,000 feet deep and there is no telling how many more they intend to build to meet their future needs.

Already, Lower Lake Mary and Mormon Lake in Flagstaff are bone dry. Formerly beautiful Upper Lake Mary is almost dry. Flagstaff and Williams need water and it’s our supply they are going after.

For the fist time ever, Sedona is not first in line. As municipalities above us dip into our water source, we may see a substantial change in our water availability.

Arizona’s water supply is threatened as well.

I was in Colorado last month. I learned Utah and Colorado are claiming increased upstream water rights at the headwaters of the Colorado River and all of the upper Colorado River basin, which lie in their states. I confirmed this information with Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis.

If this occurs (and remember, it is their river) what does this mean for Las Vegas, southern Arizona and Los Angeles, which are all downstream?

Even without Colorado and Utah not yet diverting more of the Colorado River for those states’ population and farming needs, the Colorado River today does not arrive at its historic delta at the Gulf of California anymore. Not a drop!

With Colorado and Utah claiming increased upstream water rights, everyone will have to shift to the remaining musical chairs, and someone is going to be left standing.

Las Vegas has a water-management plan. It is aware of the problem. With a proper water-management plan in Arizona, we, the country’s driest state, in our 12th year of a drought, might be able to prepare and conserve for our future.

I have heard it said more than once -- if the current-population explosion continues in Arizona, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, which are presently the top-three users of the Colorado River, and if the current drought continues, Lake Mead will be dry in 10 years. This estimate does not include Colorado and Utah’s claim for increased-upstream water rights.

Consider the Anasazi Indian’s disappearance around the year 1300AD. Could it happen again? This time to us?
I recently interviewed Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis on our water problems.

According to Supervisor Davis, there is much happening in Arizona and Northern Arizona, which directly affects us here in Sedona.

In Mojave County there are approximately 300,000 homes being built north of Kingman to handle the huge growth and population overflow from Las Vegas.

These homes are apparently being built with clear knowledge there is not enough ground water to service even a fraction of that number of homes.

Should the ground water run out, this area could become the largest ghost town in the world, unless a flotilla of trucks brings in the area’s water every day.

Until now, water adequacy has been an illegal topic in county land-use approval meetings. During the land-use approval process in Arizona’s counties, county supervisors are legally prohibited from discussing water availability.

Coconino County learned a painful lesson when the topic of water was brought up in a land-use approval process and permits were denied. Even though water was not the reason for the denial, developers appealed and won; claiming water use was discussed during the approval process.

Yavapai County will not make that mistake, according to Supervisor Davis. It is a no-no to talk water in our state at most levels.

The gag order is based on an antiquated-Arizona water law dating to 1933 when the Arizona Cotton Company sued the State of Arizona and won a judgment establishing, “first in use, first in right.” In other words, “take what you want with no limits.” This law still stands.

The Arizona State Senate recently passed Senate Bill 1575, thanks mostly to State Senator Tom O’Halleran (R-District 1) of Sedona. The bill allows cities or counties to engage in water-adequacy discussions in the land-use approval process, providing they vote to do so.

The bill allows water-adequacy discussion during the land-use approval process in two ways: the county can vote to allow such discussions or individual municipalities can vote to do so. Land-use permits can then be denied based on water adequacy.

In Yavapai County all three supervisors must vote “yes” to approve such discussions. By doing so, every city in the county would then have this tool to ensure enough water to meet development demands.

It seems obvious to me -- this is the way to go. However, my understanding is Yavapai County Supervisor Carol Springer has stated she will not vote for this bill.

I do not see how anyone could be against ensuring new homeowners the water they need to survive. If Supervisor Springer votes “no” on adopting SB1575 in Yavapai County, county supervisors will continue to sit quietly with their arms crossed and lips sealed, not able to discuss water availability during land-use approval deliberations.

The Sedona City Council can vote by a simple majority to adopt this bill and protect future-Sedona homeowners’ water. It is my belief the Sedona City Council will vote to approve.

Even if Sedona’s City Council votes for this intelligent measure, Yavapai County would continue to have excessive growth with less-than-adequate water availability if the supervisors fail to do so as well.

Next on the Senate’s agenda, hopefully, is creating a water-management plan for Arizona.

Yes, that deserves to be said again -- Arizona has no statewide, water-management plan!

Senator O’Halleran has been trying for years to change our water laws to reflect the current population boom and the current 12-year drought. I have heard Tom ask, “Are we in the 12th year of a 12-year drought or the 12th year of a 30 year drought?” Good question Tom.

In Northern Arizona, we get most of our water from groundwater sources. We were not at the table when Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Tucson divided the Colorado River between them. You can read the Colorado River Compact of 1922 and subsequent acts by visiting http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g1000/lawofrvr.html.

It is obvious as our water supply dwindles, competition between states, counties and municipalities will increase. While I don’t envision local militias guarding precious water supplies against piracy, or sand pouring out of our faucets, we can certainly expect legal and political battles in the future over our most precious commodity.

Stay tuned for part two of Water Wars.