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Comparison of Drought Impact on Water Utilities in the Tucson Basin

Comparison of Drought Impact on Water Utilities in the Tucson Basin. Noel McKee, Ashley Betz, Ross Richard, and David Rodriguez. Definition of Drought. According to Arizona Drought Preparedness Plan

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Comparison of Drought Impact on Water Utilities in the Tucson Basin

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  1. Comparison of Drought Impact on Water Utilities in the Tucson Basin Noel McKee, Ashley Betz, Ross Richard, and David Rodriguez

  2. Definition of Drought • According to Arizona Drought Preparedness Plan • “A sustained, natural reduction in precipitation that results in negative impacts to the environment and human activities”

  3. Past Drought Plans • Drought in Arizona was dealt with on an emergency basis • Governor Jack Richard Williams • 1968 – Construction of Central Arizona Project (CAP) was approved • 1973-1993 – Construction in progress

  4. Past Drought Plans Continued • Governor Bruce Babbitt • 1980 Groundwater Management Act • to control the amount of overdraft that was occurring statewide • to most effectively distribute the state’s limited supply of groundwater while considering the state’s evolving needs • to develop the water supply to increase and recharge Arizona’s groundwater

  5. Arizona Drought Preparedness Plan • Governor Janet Napolitano’s newly implemented drought action plan • Past drought actions focused on emergency response, this plan focuses on drought preparedness • Flexible to accommodate different areas of the state • Formed after considering drought plans of other states • Relies heavily on scientific resources

  6. Drought Response Ratings • 0 – Normal Conditions • 1 – Monitoring Unusual Dryness • 2 – Drought Alert • 3 – Drought Emergency

  7. Scientific Resources • Measurement of reservoir levels, stream flow, and soil moisture • Monitoring ocean temps • Data from U of A Tree Ring Lab (to predict long term climate data)

  8. Arizona Drought Preparedness Plan Continued • Implemented by the Governor’s Drought Action Task Force • Comprised of committees of experts • Meet regularly throughout the year to assess drought conditions • Task Force members include • State, Local, and Tribal leaders • Officials from: • US Geological Survey • Natural Resources Conservation Services • US Bureau of Reclamation • Salt River Project • Anthropologists and Geographers

  9. Materials and Methods • Past and present state drought plans were researched • A survey was created • Five water utilities in the Tucson area were selected to be interviewed • Responses were compared

  10. Interviewees • Marana Water Department Utilities Director Brad DeSpain • Metro Water General Manager Mark Stratton • Oro Valley Water Utilities Director Alan Forrest • Tucson Water Administrator Dennis Rule • Green Valley Community Water General Manager Arturo Gabaldon

  11. Results How many people is the water provided to? What is the source of the water?

  12. Does the company have a CAP allocation and is it used? How is the CAP water used?

  13. Are there plans to buy (more) CAP water? Is Tucson in a drought? If yes, for how long has there been a drought?

  14. How long has this utility dealt with/how is it affected by the drought? What has the utility done to prepare for drought in the past?

  15. Does the company have a drought contingency plan for the future?

  16. How does the company feel about Governor Napolitano’s new Drought Action Plan?

  17. How will the Drought Action Plan affect this company?

  18. What revisions would your company make to this plan?

  19. Useful Websites • www.drought.arizona.com • www.water.az.gov.gdtf • www.arizona.org • www.cap-az.com

  20. Conclusions • All companies believe that Tucson is in a drought but opinions about how long it has lasted differ. • Bigger companies believe the drought has lasted longer, possibly because these areas have seen more population growth and have experienced more strain on their water supply. • Smaller companies plan to invest more in CAP water, possibly because they recognize the need to obtain water before it is gone. • Tucson is different from most areas because it relies mainly on groundwater and the drought only affects the groundwater in the long run.

  21. Conclusions Continued • Drought is more detrimental to CAP water than anything else. • Mixed reactions about the Arizona Drought Preparedness Plan

  22. Acknowledgments • Thank you to the utility representatives for giving their time and providing information • Thank you to Dr. Riley, our classmates, and everyone in attendance

  23. The End

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