Tribal Irrigation Project Planned

Following a public comment period that ends March 17, the Bureau of Reclamation will prepare a draft programmatic environmental impact statement (DPEIS) for construction of a common use irrigation system on the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC). The system would serve lands identified in the Tribe's Master Plan as areas of potential agricultural development. This would include a maximum of 146,330 acres.

CAP-authorized funds allowed under the Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968 (CRBPA) would fund the project. CRBPA authorized BuRec to assist in development of water delivery systems for Indian communities receiving CAP water. In 1992, GRIC formally contracted for 173,100 acre-feet of CAP water and investigations concerning delivery of the water commenced.

GRIC and BuRec determined that a common use irrigation system, capable of conveying existing and future surface water and groundwater resources in addition to CAP water, is likely to provide the maximum benefit. Plans also provide for the enhancement of wildlife habitat and riparian areas within GRIC, and for the rehabilitation and betterment of the San Carlos Indian Irrigation Project Joint Works.

The DPEIS, a general analysis of project alternatives, is expected to be completed and available for public comment in August. The DPEIS will be followed by development of more detailed design and construction plans for specific GRIC sites.

For more information concerning the DPEIS process contact Sandra Eto, Environmental Protection Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 9980, Phoenix, AZ 85058, 602-870-6771.

Assured Water Supply Rules Take Effect

Arizona Department of Water Resources' "Assured and Adequate Water Supply Rules" became effective February 7 (see June-July AWR, p.10). Designed to limit groundwater depletion by new subdivisions in Active Management Areas and promote Central Arizona Project water use, the new rules require new developments in AMAs to demonstrate access to an "assured water supply" (i.e., sufficient supply for 100 years). In addition, the rules establish guidelines for determining adequate supplies for new subdivisions outside of AMAs.

Under the new rules, designated water providers have 180 days, or until August 7, to apply for "Designation of Assured Water Supply." Cities and towns with CAP allocations must file an application by December 31, 1997 to maintain their designation status. Applicants may qualify for assured water supply through membership in the newly formed Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD).

ADWR has scheduled half-day workshops to explain the application process and assist those intending to apply. Workshops are scheduled for March 6, ADWR, third floor conference room, 500 N. Third St., Phoenix and March 16, ADWR, Tucson AMA conference room, 400 W. Congress, Suite 518, Tucson. The concerns of water providers will be addressed from 9:00-11:30 a.m., with concerns of subdividers and local platting entities discussed from 1:00-3:30 p.m. For information regarding CAGRD membership contact the Central Arizona Water Conservation District at 602-870-2333.

ADEQ Reorganizing -- Again

Discussions are underway at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality on reorganizing the agency to better structure the operating divisions along functional, rather than programmatic lines. This would be the fourth reorganization of the Agency within the last four years.

The move is geared towards increasing efficiency by replacing program-centric units (e.g., mine permitting) with functionally defined units. One possibility is creating four units within each of the three broad environmental areas of water, air, and land. These would consist of: permitting; remediation; compliance and enforcement; and support units. A more radical approach would establish single permitting, remediation, and enforcement sections for the entire agency.

Pinal Authority Forgoes Revenue, Spares IMS

Pinal County Augmentation Authority's Board voted unanimously to forgo $16,500 in pump tax revenues to avoid harming the Irrigation Management Service (IMS). The popular water conservation program works intensively with a small number of farmers each year to improve irrigation efficiencies.

IMS has received $90,000 each of the last four years from Arizona Department of Water Resources' conservation assistance grants. Revenues for the grant program are generated by a 50¢ per acre-foot groundwater pumping tax within the Pinal Active Management Area.

Two events drastically reduced available grant funds for 1995: the 1993 statute that created the Pinal County Augmentation Authority allocated half of all future pump tax revenues to the Authority; and subsidized rates for Central Arizona Project water and other factors led to a 30 percent drop in both groundwater pumpage and tax revenues for 1994.

IMS has secured its $90,000 budget for the current year by combining a conservation assistance grant of $33,500 with $20,000 carried over from previous years, $20,000 from the Bureau of Reclamation, and $16,500 in pump tax revenues the water authority agreed not to take. IMS is seeking new funding sources for future years.

Tucson Narrows CAP Use Options

The City of Tucson has narrowed the potential uses for its Central Arizona Project (CAP) water from nine to five. Dropped from further consideration are: rejecting CAP water and remaining solely on groundwater; delivering CAP water to copper mines that currently pump groundwater; exchanging Tucson's CAP water for Pinal County groundwater; and selling, leasing, or recharging CAP water outside Arizona's Active Management Areas. Each of these potential uses faced serious legal, economic and/or hydrologic problems.

Uses still being considered include: recharge of more CAP water through injection wells, spreading basins, and in-stream; sale, lease and indirect recharge of CAP water to local farmers; demineralization or other additional treatment; and blending CAP water with high-quality groundwater from the City's Avra Valley wellfield. The most controversial use still being considered is treatment and direct delivery using Tucson's existing water treatment plant. Direct delivery of CAP water in 1993 caused numerous problems, including corrosion damage to the distribution system and household appliances and plumbing fixtures.

The five remaining use options will undergo further economic, legal, and engineering analysis. It is anticipated that the final plan will involve a combination of two to four of the most acceptable uses. With a decision not likely for several months, Tucson Water is expanding its pumping capacity to meet upcoming summer demand.

Fort Expansion Fuels River Debate

Not long ago some Sierra Vista residents fretted that a controversy over San Pedro River flow could result in the closure of Fort Huachuca, the area's largest employer. About 13,000 military and civilian personnel work at Fort Huachuca.

That this was not an idle fear was confirmed by Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt last fall when he visited the area and dropped a not-so-veiled hint that the fort could be closed down if longstanding groundwater disputes are not resolved.

Water disputes continue, however, and so does Fort Huachuca. In fact, the fort not only survived the recent round of base closures, it actually came out ahead. An additional 274 Army communications workers were assigned to the fort.

Some in Sierra Vista now have heightened hopes that Sierra Vista will become a national center for military intelligence and communications. Rep. Jim Kolbe wants other military-intelligence functions to be transferred to Fort Huachuca, including the Army's Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California.

Some accuse the federal government of sending mixed messages. In 1988 Congress created the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area to protect a 30-mile stretch of the river. Environmentalists are concerned that groundwater pumping in the area eventually will affect the flow of the San Pedro River, the largest undammed river in Arizona. The Southwest Center for Biological Diversity has sued the Army claiming it has not considered the effects of base expansion on decreasing water supplies.

Mercury Found in Peña Blanca Fish

Fishermen are being advised not to eat most fish species caught at Peña Blanca Lake after testing revealed mercury levels nearly three times the safety standard set by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The advisory, issued jointly by the Arizona Departments of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and Health Services, does not extend to other recreational activities, or to trout, which are stocked in the 45-acre lake located nine miles northwest of Nogales.

ADEQ is investigating possible sources of the contamination, including nearby abandoned mine tailings, agricultural fungicides, and natural sources. Mercury is a toxic metal which accumulates in organisms and can affect nerves, brain, and kidneys.

The mercury advisory is the first one issued for an Arizona lake. Testing at nearby Patagonia Lake revealed no traces of mercury.

ADEQ Shuts Down Tombstone Waterline

The approximately 100 Sierra Vista area residents who have tapped into Tombstone's waterline from the Huachuca Mountains may lose their water supply due to a state order.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality ordered the antiquated waterline shut down because the surface water supply is delivered to homes without being filtered or chlorinated and may spread waterborne contaminants. The city has until June 1 to comply with the order. Those using the water are being notified of the pending action.

Winter Was Warm, Wet

As an unusually warm and wet winter nears its end, the water supply situation in the Colorado River basin appears mixed. In the upper basin, southwestern Wyoming has below-average snowpack and poor reservoir storage. Colorado also experienced sparse precipitation, except in the southwest part of the state. Utah's precipitation was well above average, but unseasonably warm temperatures melted snowpacks at lower elevations. Snowpack in the San Juan River basin of New Mexico is somewhat above normal, and streamflows in the San Francisco/Gila system are well above normal.

The suppy outlook is more positive in the lower basin. Nevada had a wet winter, and California officially ended its drought, as flooding replaced shortage as the principle water problem. Arizona's snowpack, precipitation and reservoir storage all look very good.