future directions
Here's a selection of upcoming projects. If you're interested in hydrogeologic consultation services, please see the about page for more information.
Arizona Water Settlement Act
I am working on discovering the details of how water from the upper Gila River watershed will be divided among its users as a result of the Arizona Water Settlement Act (U.S. Senate Bill 437, and U.S. House of Representatives Bill 885). The upper Gila River watershed, in Arizona and New Mexico, is designated by the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation as an area that is highly likely to experience water supply crisis by the year 2025. Such areas are defined as such places where existing supplies are not adequate to meet water demands for people, for farms, and for the environment.
Bennett W. Raley (Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the Department of the Interior) stated the Interior Department's concerns regarding Title II of H.R. 885., which would approve the Gila River Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Agreement, when he said:
"H.R. 885 authorizes several water exchanges between the Community and various parties in the State, including the Phelps Dodge Corporation, ASARCO and several municipalities in the Upper Gila River watershed. While we support the mechanism of water exchanges, we want to work with the committee to ensure that the current language adequately takes into account the water rights of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, parties affected in the State of New Mexico (under the Colorado River Basin Project Act), listed species and critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and rights to divert water in relation to the Globe Equity Decree. Previous analyses indicate that appurtenant structures and dams involved in this agreement could lead to more extensive and frequent Gila River drying, which, in turn, could lead to potential ESA conflicts. "
Detailed knowledge of changed upper Gila River water diversions would help identify when, where, and how such drying is likely to occur. Resultant spatial mapping of the relative degrees of hydrologic impact to Gila River stream-aquifer systems could help guide future land use planning.
Posted by jlombard at July 16, 2004 04:33 PM