How Should Arizona Meet Its Future Water Needs?

A PUBLIC HEARINGA PUBLIC HEARING

October 28, 2009October 28, 2009

Pessimism grows on CAP water shortage Article in Daily Star Feb. 26, 2007Article in Daily Star Feb. 26, 2007 ““The [Colorado] river's outlook is worse The [Colorado] river's outlook is worse

than even the worst-case scenario than even the worst-case scenario predicted by a federally funded study predicted by a federally funded study written 12 years ago”written 12 years ago”

““The principal reason is that the river's The principal reason is that the river's three Lower Basin states — Arizona, three Lower Basin states — Arizona, Nevada and California — have grown Nevada and California — have grown faster and used more water than faster and used more water than forecasters predicted.” forecasters predicted.”

Pessimism grows on CAP water shortage Article in Daily Star Feb. 18, 2009Article in Daily Star Feb. 18, 2009 “…“…the most likely reduction in Colorado the most likely reduction in Colorado

River flows from global warming and River flows from global warming and drought will be about 20 percent by drought will be about 20 percent by 2050.”2050.”

““A separate study… will predict a 30 A separate study… will predict a 30 percent chance that Lake Mead and percent chance that Lake Mead and Lake Powell could go dry by 2050 if Lake Powell could go dry by 2050 if nothing is done about climate change...” nothing is done about climate change...”

BACKGROUND• One of the biggest environmental and socio-

political issues of our time is the conflict over water.

• The "water wars" (often literally) will only intensify in the future as demands for water increase globally.

• In southern AZ, we have been using water (surface and ground water) faster than it replenishes due to urban expansion and increasing agricultural demand.

• The Central Arizona Project (CAP) was built (1973-1993) to import water from the Colorado River to southern Arizona.

336 miles, 1.5 maf, 2900’ uphill, $4 billionLake Havasu

CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT (CAP) 336 miles of aqueducts, tunnels, 336 miles of aqueducts, tunnels,

pumping plants and pipelinespumping plants and pipelines carrying 1.5 million acre-feet of carrying 1.5 million acre-feet of

Colorado River water per year. Colorado River water per year. Extends from Lake Havasu to the Extends from Lake Havasu to the southern boundary of the San southern boundary of the San Xavier Indian Reservation Xavier Indian Reservation southwest of Tucson (up 2900’)southwest of Tucson (up 2900’)

at a cost of over $4 billion ($1.65 at a cost of over $4 billion ($1.65 billion has to be repaid)billion has to be repaid)

THE PLAYERS U.S. Bureau of ReclamationU.S. Bureau of Reclamation Native AmericansNative Americans Agri-BusinessAgri-Business City CitizensCity Citizens EnvironmentalistsEnvironmentalists

                                           

PUBLIC HEARING 10 minute presentations10 minute presentations

Convince panel your plan is bestConvince panel your plan is best No comments from other groupsNo comments from other groups

10 minute recess10 minute recess 5 minute rebuttals5 minute rebuttals

Address statements made by other groupsAddress statements made by other groups 10 minutes of questions from panel10 minutes of questions from panel Decision by panelDecision by panel

Public Hearing Tips

1. Know your own side well1. Know your own side well Know your strongest argumentsKnow your strongest arguments Know your weaknessesKnow your weaknesses

• Prepare your defensesPrepare your defenses

2. Know the other sides well2. Know the other sides well Know their strongest argumentsKnow their strongest arguments

prepare defensesprepare defenses Know their weaknessesKnow their weaknesses

point them outpoint them out

Public Hearing Tips

3. Present a clear plan3. Present a clear plan State what it will accomplishState what it will accomplish State how it will be accomplishedState how it will be accomplished

Public Hearing Tips

4. Address panel’s likely4. Address panel’s likely

criteria directlycriteria directly Predict the criteria the panel likely Predict the criteria the panel likely

will use to make their decision and will use to make their decision and write them down.write them down.

For each one, point out the criterion For each one, point out the criterion and state how your plan is best.and state how your plan is best.

Public Hearing Tips

5. Be persuasive5. Be persuasive speak to the panel membersspeak to the panel members use visual aidsuse visual aids use facts vs. emotion appropriatelyuse facts vs. emotion appropriately sound informedsound informed be enthusiasticbe enthusiastic

Public Hearing Tips