GWAICC
GWAICC
On January 31, 2019, Governor Ducey signed Executive Order 2019-02, stating in part, "...it is important for the work of the Governor's Water Initiative to be continued and expanded upon through the creation of a new Council with a long-term focus on water augmentation, innovation and conservation; and given the importance of sustainable water supplies to Arizona and policy decisions that must be made, members of the Arizona Legislature should serve on the Council in addition to individuals appointed by the Governor..." Executive Order 2019-02 superseded and rescinded Executive Order 2015-13 which formed the Governor's Water Augmentation Council and established the Planning Area Process.
Executive Order 2015-13 created the Governor's Water Augmentation Council (GWAC) and Planning Area Process. The GWAC met quarterly from February 2016 to January 2018. In the fall of 2016, four committees were created: Desalination, Recycled Water, Long-Term Water Augmentation, and Finance. The Planning Area Process meetings were a series of public meetings held in the Cochise, Northwest Basins, and West Basins Planning Areas. The meetings occurred between January 2016 and May 2017.
2019 Governor’s Water Augmentation, Innovation and Conservation Council Current Governor Appointed Members
Thomas Buschatzke (Chair)
Basilio Aja
Chris Camacho
Christopher Udall
Cheryl Lombard
Chuck Podolak
Craig Sullivan
Dave Roberts
David Brown
Dennis Patch
Doug Dunham
Edward P. Maxwell
Glenn Hamer
Grady Gammage
Jamie Kelley
Jay Whetten
John Kmiec
Kathleen Ferris
Kevin Rogers
Lisa Atkins
Maria Dadgar
Mark Smith
Misael Cabrera
Patrick Graham
Philip Townsend
Philip Richards
Ronald Doba
Sandra Fabritz
Sarah Porter
Spencer Kamps
Stephanie Smallhouse
Stephen Q. Miller
Stephen Roe Lewis
Timothy Thomure
Ted Cooke
Virginia O’Connell
Wade Noble
Warren Tenney
William Garfield
Legislators
Rep. Gail Griffin, designee for Rep. Rusty Bowers, Speaker of the House
Sen. Sine Kerr, designee for Sen. Karen Fann, President of the Senate
Rep. Charlene Fernandez, House Minority Leader
Sen. Lisa Otondo, designee for Sen. David Bradley, Senate Minority Leader
Governor's Water Augmentation, Innovation, and Conservation Council Committees
Governor's Water Augmentation, Innovation, and Conservation Council ACTIVITIES
The Governor’s Water Augmentation, Innovation and Conservation Council was formed in January 2019 by Executive Order 2019-02. The Council’s focus is on water augmentation, innovation and conservation. The Council is comprised of 38 Governor appointed members and four legislators, including the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, House Minority Leader and Senate Minority Leader. The Director of the Arizona Water Resource Department chairs the Council. The Council has formed four committees for focus: Desalination Committee, Long Term Water Augmentation Committee, Non-AMA Groundwater Committee and Post 2025 AMAs Committee.
Documents
Desalination Committee
At the inaugural meeting of the Governor's Water Augmentation, Innovation and Conservation Council, the members decided that the Desalination Committee, originally established by the Governor's Water Augmentation Council, would continue. Here you will find information regarding the Desalination Committee activities prior to March 8, 2019.
Documents
Desalination Regulatory & Legal Issues Subcommittee
The Desalination Regulatory & Legal Issues Subcommittee was created as a technical group to conduct further investigations into sites that are designated as possible brackish water desalination projects by the Desalination Committee. The exploration of legal and regulatory constraints for such projects are conducted within this subcommittee.
Documents
Long Term Water Augmentation Committee
At the inaugural meeting of the Governor's Water Augmentation, Innovation and Conservation Council, the members decided that the Long-Term Water Augmentation Committee, originally established by the Governor's Water Augmentation Council, would continue. Here you will find information regarding the Long-Term Water Augmentation Committee activities prior to March 8, 2019.
Documents
Potential Water Storage Sites Project Criteria Development Sub-committee
The Potential Water Storage Sites Project Criteria Development Sub-committee was created as a working group to develop criteria which would apply parameters to a potential study of suitable water storage sites statewide. The Sub-committee's goal is to conclude by May 2020 and report its list to the GWAICC's Long Term Water Augmentation Committee.
Documents
NON-AMA GROUNDWATER COMMITTEE
At the June 13, 2019 meeting of the Governor's Water Augmentation, Innovation and Conservation Council, Chairman Buschatzke recommended the Council form a Groundwater Committee to look at groundwater issues outside the Active Management Areas. The Chairman received Council consensus and Rep. Gail Griffin and Ms. Jamie Kelley volunteered to co-chair the new committee. All meetings of the Committee are open to the public and all stakeholders are encouraged to participate.
Documents
Post-2025 AMAs COMMITTEE
The Groundwater Management Code was adopted in the face of severe groundwater depletion and established AMAs and respective Management Plans for implementation of its programs. The fifth and final Management Period ends in 2025. This Committee provides an opportunity to evaluate the outcomes of the first 45 years under the Code, and to identify potential strategies for sound water management after 2025.
Documents
Annual Reports
Pursuant to Executive Order 2019-02, the first Annual Report of the Council will be due in 2020.