Drought Contingency Plan

In several respects, the big environmental winner this year in the Southwest has been in the realm of water.

Support in Congress for the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plans took a big step forward on Thursday when lawmakers on a key House subcommittee expressed bipartisan – and, in many cases, enthusiastic – support for the effort to help stabilize the drought-troubled river system.

Among those expressing strong support for the DCPs was Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee.

As the New Year approaches, compiling a list of the top stories in the Arizona water industry is always a challenge because there’s always a lot to choose from. But 2018 truly was more eventful than other years in recent memory.

From the increased efforts of Drought Contingency Planning, to a wildfire season unlike any other, to the ongoing drought declarations within the Southwest, take a look back at some of the key moments in 2018, as they were reported by Arizona Water News.

The interagency coordinating group that analyzes Arizona’s drought status on behalf of the Governor had some good water news and some bad water news at its Nov. 28 meeting.

The next step in the reinvigorated effort to bring a Drought Contingency Plan in Arizona to closure is scheduled for Tuesday, July 10, at the Heard Museum in central Phoenix.

Co-hosted once again by the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, the public meeting is set for 1-4 pm at the museum auditorium, located at 2301 N. Central Ave.

The cooperative measures on Colorado River water that the United States and Mexico agreed to in September – an agreement described, collectively, as “Minute 323” – have garnered a lot of media attention in the weeks since the documents were signed.

With an eye to long-term, binational cooperation and to managing a more stable Colorado River System, representatives of the United States, Mexico and the Colorado River Basin States of the U.S. on Wednesday celebrated the "entry into force" of an agreement deemed essential to the System’s future.

Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke told a U.S. Senate panel on Wednesday that his state’s philosophy on preparing for long-term drought is focused on developing and improving the tools necessary to combat the effects of lengthy dry spells.

The conservation group American Rivers has rated the Colorado River the most endangered river in the country for 2017, notably the portion of the river that begins at Lee Ferry below Glen Canyon Dam, northeast of the Grand Canyon.

“We are the people of the river.”

With a sweep of his hand toward vast, new wetlands blossoming at the southernmost corner of the Gila River Indian Community, Tribal Governor Stephen Lewis explained the dual purpose behind the tribe’s investment in the fast-rushing waters flowing near the site known as the Olberg Bridge.

The negotiations to find an equitable way to stabilize the Colorado River system and, specifically, Lake Mead have been underway for nearly four years now.

In some respects, the parties at the table – including representatives of California, Nevada, the federal government and Arizona – largely have found common ground, in principle.