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AWBA NEWS
ARIZONA WATER BANKING AUTHORITY
Final Minutes
May 3, 2000
Arizona Department of Water Resources
This was a special meeting called to obtain a Commission vote on the approval of the storage agreement for the Lower Santa Cruz Replenishment Project.
Welcome/Opening
Remarks
Rita Pearson, William Chase and
Richard Walden were present at the meeting. Tom Griffin and George
Renner participated in the meeting via conference call. Representative
Gail Griffin and Senator Ken Bennett were absent.
Discussion and Action Item
Tim Henley, manager of the
AWBA,
explained that timing of CAWCD Board meetings necessitated today’s
meeting. By voting on the approval today, the AWBA could recharge
water at the facility several months earlier than if the matter was
presented at the June 21, 2000 meeting.
Mr. Henley informed the members that the AWBA received letters from the Town of Marana and Pima County supporting approval of the agreement. He then provided an overview of the storage agreement that is similar to other agreements between the AWBA and the CAWCD. Mr. Henley specifically discussed the cost component of this storage facility.
The Authority asked Mr. Henley if any public comment opposing the approval had been received. Mr. Henley replied that it had not. Authority members had questions regarding the magnitude and determination of the facility costs and whether costs would change if other entities utilized the facility. Mr. Henley and Tom Harbour of the CAP provided information regarding these questions. Some specific responses were: facility costs in the agreement are estimates and could change annually based on actual operational costs; the conveyance cost appears high due to the utilization of a private ditch (BKW), an energy component, and ditch modifications to allow its utilization; and the AWBA could decide annually (in the annual plan of operation) that facility costs were too high and recharge at the facility could be discontinued.
Richard Walden initiated discussion regarding recovery at the site. He said that he agreed that recharge in Pima County was beneficial but that he had some concerns whether the water would be available for recovery in the Tucson AMA due to the proximity of the site to the AMA boundary. There was then additional discussion regarding the general hydrology of the area and movement of water (both surface and ground) in the area surrounding the facility. Mr. Marv Cohen stated that he wanted to go on the record with similar concerns. Specifically, that he shared Mr. Walden’s concerns regarding water movement when first recovery for firming of M&I supplies is not anticipated for approximately 30 years, and that other recovery issues may develop in the future because the recharge facility is within the boundaries covered by a trust agreement currently being negotiated by three parties. Rita Pearson stated that recovery issues are becoming increasingly important as the AWBA continues to evolve and that discussions of this nature are an important component of the decision making process of the AWBA.
In conclusion, Mr. Henley reiterated that the agreement only allows the AWBA to store at the facility, it does not require them to do so. Nor does the agreement bind the AWBA to a specific annual quantity of storage. If, in the future, alternative facilities are identified that are more cost effective or provide better recovery opportunities, the AWBA can cease recharging at this facility.
Mr. Renner moved that the AWBA approve the agreement. The motion carried unanimously and the agreement was signed.
Call to the Public
The meeting concluded at 8:30
a.m.
