'FUTURE SCARCITY' FOR WATER IN AZ

posted by Michael Chihak

The University of Arizona's annual conference on state water issues will be held next week in Tucson.

The conference will focus on extending the water supply for another century.

Before we talk about a century from now, though, we should focus on the immediate future.

One research report that will be discussed at the conference next week says the "critical threshold" for water supply in Arizona will be around the year 2035, give or take a couple of years. That's just two decades from now, right around the corner.

No one questions that water is the No. 1 economic and societal issue in the state.

But as long as it flows readily from the tap and remains relatively inexpensive, are we willing to do anything about it? That's the point of the conference, to get us to do something.

Water experts say that means more than shorter showers, turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth and minimizing outdoor watering.

One report that will be discussed at the conference puts it this way: "The state is acing a future of potential water scarcity unless significant demand side reduction and supply augmentation strategies are implemented."

More simply put, it means we'll run low on water if we don't reduce what we use and find new sources.

And while shorter showers will help and are advised, a strategic approach, one driven by changes in state law, is what's really needed.

State policymakers are not currently working on a comprehensive approach to revamping and modernizing water management.

That may be because we're not in a water crisis -- yet.

Two decades will speed by, and then we will be in crisis.

The time for political leaders to act is now.

Conference participants say they hope to generate a better dialogue about water in the state and to make recommendations for legislative action.

Arizonans would do well to pay close attention to the outcomes.

YOUR WATER: THE NEXT 100 YEARS

posted by Amer Taleb

Vital to keeping the state’s citizens and economy alive, Arizona’s water resources are a bubbling hot topic in academia. Over the next 100 years, the Grand Canyon State will see more urbanization and population growth, but how water is used and conserved remains unclear.

Three water-related reports are the bedrock of next week’s “Urbanization, Uncertainty and Water: Planning for Arizona’s Second Hundred Years” conference hosted at the University of Arizona in collaboration with Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy.

A water-induced crisis is not expected to strike Arizona anytime soon and such a scenario is not inevitable, but inaction can change that quickly.

At least one projection shows the Southwest losing billions of dollars in economic impact annually because of increased water shortfall of surface and ground water, according to a Grand Canyon Institute report that will be discussed at the conference.

“To ensure Arizona maintains sustainable economic growth requires recognizing the contribution of water as an engine of economic stability,” wrote Karen L. Smith, report author and an institute fellow.

Water resource certainty drives Arizona’s economy and is essential to our $10.5 billion dollar recreation and tourism industries, according to Smith’s report.

A one-size-fits-all solution does not exist in a state filled with diverse landscapes and communities with unique concerns.

Through patience, persistence and public education, answers can be found, wrote Sharon B. Megdal, director of the UA’s Water Resources Research Center, in her contribution to a Morrison Institute report, which also will be discussed at the conference.

“The people of Pima County realize how critical water management is for their future,” she wrote. “… they must work together on shaping that future.”

WHERE WILL TOMORROW'S WATER COME FROM?

posted by Michael Chihak

Three significant pieces of research will be the focal point of the University of Arizona's annual water conference next week.

"Urbanization, Uncertainty and Water: Planning for Arizona's Second Hundred Years" will be held Tuesday, jan. 24, and feature a host of public policy and water specialists.

The three research reports are the Morrison Institute for Public Policy's "Watering the Sun Corridor: Managing Choices om Arizona's Megapolitan Area," the Grand Canyon Institute's "Arizona at the Crossroads: Water Scarcity or Water Sustainability?" and the Arizona Water Resources Development Commission's 2011 report.

On Friday's program, we will speak with four participants in the water conference, including Morrison Institute report author Grady Gammage Jr and Grand Canyon Institute report author Karen L. Smith.

In additional, Sharon Megdal, director of the UA Water Resources Research Center, and Gary Yaquinto, president of the Arizona Investment Council, will parlay their viewpoints.

GOV. WANTS MORE FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

posted by Michael Chihak

The 2012-13 state budget proposal from Gov. Jan Brewer's office calls for additional resources for behavioral health care.

The amounts are small but worth mentioning because in this space last week -- read it here -- yours truly pointed out that the state had done nothing to improve resources for mental health services in the year since the Jan. 8, 2011 Tucson shooting tragedy.

Brewer's proposed budget includes $2.5 million this fiscal year and $7 million next fiscal year for the Arizona State Hospital and $38.5 million next fiscal year for behavioral health services.

The latter figure allows the state to meet its obligations to the "seriously mentally ill" as defined in a 1981 court case whose effect was suspended in 2010 by mutual agreement because of the state's budget crisis. That suspension expires June 30, and thus the governor is recommending reinstatement of the funding.

PREDICTABLE POLITICS? DO SOMETHING UNPREDICTABLE

posted by Michael Chihak

The Arizona Legislature opened its annual session this week with a speech from Gov. Jan Brewer.

We listened to the predictable rhetoric from both political parties, and we heard the predictable responses.

How the session will go is predictable, too: the Republican super majority will do what it wants when it wants, and the Democratic minority will flail flaccidly on the frontier of effectiveness.

Enough with the predictions. How about something unpredictable? How about our involvement in the process because we’re the people most affected by what the lawmakers do?

Yes, we’ll have our say at the voting booth come November, but why not avoid the rush and contact a legislator now to express your opinion on the work being done.

There’s plenty to comment on, because even before the legislative session opened, more than 150 bills had been proposed.

A small number of them relate to the Legislature’s primary responsibility – passing a state budget. The rest delve into a wide range of matters, including what is taught and who teaches in public schools, increased or reduced penalties for various criminal offenses and bills that would expand gun rights, allow seizure of uninsured vehicles and tighten eligibility for public-paid health coverage.

It’s frankly a dizzying array, and the main action hasn’t even begun yet. The governor’s budget proposal along with the details on policy changes she wants will come today and in the weeks ahead.

There will be something for everyone to favor or oppose. Our job as citizens is to take on favor and opposition and let our lawmakers know.

That’s called democracy, and it’s more realistic than any reality show.

So get in on the action. It will be a good way to start getting in shape for that ultimate reality show later this year, the general election.

BREWER: REDISTRICTING FIGHT'S NOT OVER

posted by Michael Chihak

Gov. Jan Brewer is still bristling over the Arizona Supreme Court's rejection of her attempt to remove Colleen Mathis as chair of the Independent Redistricting Commission.

Brewer said in an Arizona Week interview that she was "a little bit, to say the least, disappointed, maybe outraged" that the Supreme Court ruled against her and the Senate's Republican majority. All 21 GOP senators voted for Mathis' removal.

Brewer said the court's action is a denial of the check-and-balance system built into all facets of government, including the redistricting commission.

"I would not be surprised if we didn' see legislation to address that in the upcoming session," she said, adding that she favors legislative action of some sort to change the process.

Asked if she and other Republicans had created a perception that they didn't like competition in political races, based on their complaints that the commission was emphasizing competitiveness over other factors in drawing district lines, Brewer said:

"I don't think anybody likes competition, but we know that comes with the territory. That's what our primaries are all about, that's what the general election is all about -- competition."

At the same time, Brewer said, she stands by her claims that the commission under Mathis violated the state constitution and broke the state Open Meeting Law.

See Brewer's interview, including her complete comments on the redistricting fight, on Friday's Arizona Week, 8:30 p.m. MST on PBS-HD6.