RISING TEMPS AND DESERT WATER MANAGEMENT

posted to AZ Week Notebook by Michael Chihak

Drought and the desert go hand in hand, yet the most recent drought in Arizona had a characteristic unlike any other in the last 100 years: higher temperatures through the duration of the dry period, starting around 2000, a University of Arizona scientist says.

"I've researched all droughts (in Arizona) of the 20th century, and I found that in the most recent drought, the temperatures were warmer than average," geoscientist Connie Woodhouse said in an interview with Arizona Week. "That's a characteristic not existent in earlier droughts."

The consequences are important to consider, Woodhouse said. Warmer temperatures mean increased water demand and increased evaporation, she said.

That means water managers ought to pay closer attention, and they should know that because of ongoing climate change, temperatures likely will be warmer during future droughts, Woodhouse said. She added that she knows water managers are doing a good job including climate change information in their discussions and decisions.

Woodhouse has done extensive research on Southwestern climatology and is working on a tree-ring study that should bring greater understanding to the Sonoran Desert's monsoon seasons. Data from the study, to be available within the next month, could show a correlation between summer monsoons and winter rains in the Southwest.

"We can't predict the future, but if we use the past, we can see that we've had low flows (on the Colorado River) since 2000, the first year of the latest drought," Woodhouse said.

Is that drought over now that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says Upper Colorado Basin snow pack was way above normal this past winter? "It depends on who you talk to," Woodhouse said.

Arizona water managers have said the big snow pack and resultant federal decision to increase the amount of water moving down the Colorado River and into Lakes Powell and Mead means there won't be a shortage at current usage levels until at least 2016.

Whether the drought has ended or not, Woodhouse had this advice for water managers in the state: "I would suggest they consider permanent ways to conserve water."

TIME'S UP ON 100-YEAR WATER SUPPLY

posted to AZ Week Notebook by Michael Chihak

Seeking background on Arizona's water issues is akin to seeking background on state political history. There's a lot of it, and in fact, the water issues history parallels the political history.

One year before Arizona became a state, central Arizona farmers coalesced to ensure a 100-year water supply, as documented by the Arizona Republic's Shaun McKinnon in a March 9, 2011 story. They did so by securing the construction of the Roosevelt Dam, which created the first in a series of reservoirs for their farms in what is now the sprawling Phoenix metropolitan area.

Note it was 100 years ago that they made the move to secure a 100-year water supply.

Thus, time is up.

So now what? More conservation, new water supplies, restrictions on growth? All of the above will be needed to get through the next 100 years.

In the March story, McKinnon quoted a researcher at the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, Grady Gammage Jr., as saying: "We'be probably got another 30 years to run without doing anything too dramatic," regarding water supply. "Beyond the 30-year point, if you assume we will continue to grow even close to the pace we have ... beyond 30 years, something dramatic has to happen."

Friday's Arizona Week will look at the water picture for Arizona, short-term and long-term, by speaking with the key overseer of water supply for the state, Central Arizona Project General Manager David Modeer.

We also will interview Gregg Garfin, a University of Arizona geoscientist and climate expert on long-term implications and the effects of climate change.

Republic reporter McKinnon, who covers water and environment, will appear on the journalists' panel, along with Gisela Telis, Arizona Public Media's online producer who has a science background, and Sarah Walters, meteorologist for KPNX-TV, Channel 12 in Phoenix.

PERMANENT FORECAST FOR ARIZONA: HOT, DRY

posted to AZ Week Notebook by Michael Chihak

Much of Arizona got a reprieve from the drought last month. No, it wasn't a big cloudburst that suddenly filled the dry arroyos and riverbeds, not to mention the once huge lakes -- Mead and Powell -- on the Colorado River.

The reprieve came in the form of a political/bureaucratic/water management decision to allow 40.5 percent more water to flow out of Lake Powell down the Colorado and into Lake Mead and beyond. From there, Arizona, California, Nevada and Mexico can use more water.

The increased flow is the result of a 4-year-old river management system agreed to by the states that use Colorado River water. It's administered by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which has concluded based on last winter's big snow pack in the upper basin that there will be enough water.

For five years.

That means the lower basin states and Mexico get their agreed-upon allocations, without having to endure cutbacks and the possibility of rationing, for the next five years.

What will happen after that? Rainfall, the future snow pack, population growth and other factors will determine it. But one thing is for certain.

We'll still be in a desert.

Arizona Week on Friday at 8:30 p.m. MST on PBS-HD will delve into short-term water management and supply issues and the long-term outlook.

NEW TUCSON SYMPHONY EXEC DIRECTOR

posted to Cue Sheet by James Reel

In case you missed the announcement in the newspaper last week, here's the press release. I'd like to see how they calculate that dubious figure in the last sentence, by the way.

TUCSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA NAMES ANDREW BIRGENSMITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kansas City Symphony General Manager to Assume Post August 1

(Tucson, AZ)—The Tucson Symphony Orchestra has named Andrew Birgensmith as the next Executive Director of the 83-year old orchestra. Mr. Birgensmith comes to the TSO after a decade with the Kansas City Symphony, where he has held the post of General Manager for the past eight seasons. Mr. Birgensmith was chosen after a year-long, nationwide search that yielded 40 candidates. The TSO brought five candidates to Tucson for meetings with Music Director and Conductor, George Hanson, orchestra representatives, board members and senior staff.

“Andrew has had tremendous success as an arts administrator, fundraiser and project developer,” commented Tucson Symphony Society Board of Trustees President Erwin Kratz. “It is a testament to the vitality of the TSO that we are able to attract candidates of Andrew’s caliber, and we are looking forward to working with him to continue building on our recent successes.”

Mr. Birgensmith moved to Kansas City in 1996 to open Station Casino where he served as Entertainment Manager for two years. His time there was spent overseeing the construction of the various performance venues and booking and producing entertainment for the entertainment facility. In 1998 Mr. Birgensmith joined the Union Station/Science City project where first he oversaw the construction of the entertainment district and later managed and created shows for the large format theater, planetarium, and City Stage while also supervising all special events.

In 2001 Mr. Birgensmith began working for the Kansas City Symphony as Associate Director of Marketing and then as Operations Manager. In 2003 Mr. Birgensmith was promoted to General Manager overseeing the day-to-day logistical operation of the business and seeking ways to increase business and revenue through community partnerships. Most recently his primary function was to serve as the principal liaison between the Symphony and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts to ensure a smooth transition into the new facility opening in September 2011.

Mr. Birgensmith attended Shenandoah University and Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Virginia where he received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Trombone Performance. He later attended Florida State University for Arts Administration.

“I can't wait to begin working with the staff, musicians, and board of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra,” said Mr. Birgensmith. “I have gained a lot of leadership experience while working for the Kansas City Symphony and now it is time to share what I learned. Last season the TSO had to make some painful financial adjustments. As a result, the future of the organization is much brighter. I am impressed with the work that has been done. The foundation of the organization is strong and clearly in place. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to build the TSO.”

George Hanson commented, “I am very much looking forward to working with Andrew to enhance and strengthen the TSO’s presence in our community as we fulfill our mission to serve Tucson and southern Arizona communities with performances and education programs of the highest caliber.”

Mr. Birgensmith and his fiancée, Holly Swangstu, plan to live in Tucson. He will assume his post with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra on August 1, 2011.

The Tucson Symphony Orchestra will open its 83rd season on October 14, 2011. It is the oldest symphony orchestra in the Southwest and the oldest continuously performing professional arts organization in Arizona. The concert season extends from October through April with more than 70 orchestra and 260 chamber ensemble performances each year. Each concert season offers Classic, TSO Pops! and MasterWorks Series, Classic, MasterWorks and TSO Pops! Specials, Moveable Musical Feasts and a series of free chamber ensemble performances for families entitled Just for Kids. In 2004, the TSO received the Governor’s Arts Award recognizing its 75 years of significant community impact.

With an annual budget of $3.6 million, the TSO pumps more than $20 million into the Southern Arizona economy each year.

TAKING THE EDGE OFF HARD NEWS

posted to AZ Week Notebook by Michael Chihak

Sandra Martinez was born in Mexico, came to the United States at age 4 and moved to the Phoenix area at age 11. From the time she arrived in the Valley of the Sun, she had her eye on college.

But other things came along -- two children, for example. Her boys are now 12 and 9, and they will celebrate next week with her and her husband when Martinez gets her bachelor's degree in communication from ASU.

She enrolled five years ago, determined to better her life and set an example for her children that getting an education is the key to success in life.

"My 12-year-old told me when I started my education at ASU, I started with one class," Martinez said in an interview for Friday's Arizona Week. "I did find it very intimidating coming back after so many years. He told me, 'Wow, I'm going to get my Ph.D. before you at that rate.' So I had to kick it up a notch.

"I think with that they have kept me going and inspired me to take it on and finish it within five years."

Martinez works in the ASU business office working on student accounts. She hopes to continue that work after graduating, but said she will be happy with anything in the world of higher education, where she can help others achieve the dream she has worked hard for.

AGAINST BRUCKNER

posted to Cue Sheet by James Reel

Finally, somebody expresses an opinion I have long kept to myself: "Let's be clear: Bruckner is not the next Mahler. He enjoys some popularity among contemporary conductors because he's a heavyweight romantic tonal composer whose music can, from a certain angle, be viewed as a sort of forerunner of the non-sonata, "rotating chunk" modern school of musical form. He's an easy read for conductors with basic time-beating skills and a good brass section. In music, a cold and lazy lack of expressiveness can pass itself off as "spirituality". Hence the current Bruckner glut." That's David Hurwitz, who actually likes Bruckner, in a review of the latest poorly conceived Bruckner CD.