Some Arizona cities will be cut off from Colorado River water on January 1 (leasing, agriculture)

[thrillobyte]

It's starting to sound pretty dire now. Or is it?


On the one hand small unincorporated cities and communities are getting notices that they'll be cut off from Colorado River water. In Tuscon they've built up a 3-year reserve in underground aquifers and what happens when that is used up. They're reporting that Hoover Dam is a few years from "deadpool" status and will stop generating power. But a pic of lake Mead in the article shows boats on what looks like pristine waters.


So is Arizona in a water crisis or isn't it?


https://www.npr.org/2022/09/22/11241...s-hitting-home

[KurtAZ]

I would be more worried about Las Vegas and St George than AZ. CA is going to be a mess when they start cutting their allocations.

[thrillobyte]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

I would be more worried about Las Vegas and St George than AZ. CA is going to be a mess when they start cutting their allocations.

The article says that Az is junior to California. So it sounds like Az will lose their water before Cali does.

[KurtAZ]

Originally Posted by thrillobyte

The article says that Az is junior to California. So it sounds like Az will lose their water before Cali does.

Right...and we have had some cuts this past year and face more in the coming years...but CA hasn't had to give up any of its allocations yet and basically all of Southern California depends on the Colorado river. There are some huge aquifers in SoCal but I am not sure to what extent those are tapped.

Las Vegas and St George are solely reliant on Lake Mead. If they can't pull water from there they are pretty much screwed. AZ has other water sources...CAP and the Colorado River system is only a portion of our water.

This has been discussed ad nauseum...but these sensationalistic articles keep coming out. It is almost like SOMEONE is trying to convince people that AZ is going to dry up and blow away for some reason.

[teddyearp]

But, but Arizona is a terribleâ„¢ place! Of course it is going to dry up.

[lbc1998]

Originally Posted by thrillobyte

The article says that Az is junior to California. So it sounds like Az will lose their water before Cali does.

Exactly.

[Valley Native]

Just a few years ago, I was questioning the seriousness of the drought for several reasons ... although I knew that we had already been in a prolonged dry spell. If the experts knew in advance about the drought and the dwindling CAP supply, restrictions should have begun on the most gluttonous water user (agriculture) many years ago. Furthermore, the leasing of farm land to that Saudi Arabian company should have never been allowed to happen.

When water becomes more scarce, this is when we know it's time for a change in our overall economic focus. No longer are the five "C"s valid like they were decades ago. Three out of those five are enormous water users. The fourth one (climate), or in our case, a deficiency of rain/snow over the last 20 years, has contributed to the current drought & water situation. The new Arizona economy should be technology, corporations, a skilled workforce, and year round tourism. Less emphasis needs to be placed on snowbirds, retirement, farming, and weather/climate.

[corydon]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Furthermore, the leasing of farm land to that Saudi Arabian company should have never been allowed to happen.

.

Well.... money is #1. That is how it was, and always will be.

[FlurryCat]

The Guardian is doing a 7-part series on the drought in the US Southwest. Among the stories so far there's one on the alfalfa crop and one on lawns.

https://www.theguardian.com/environm...-us-south-west

[WanderingRebel]

https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/05/us/ar...ate/index.html

Still not sure why this is legal.