This issue brings mail, email and phone correspondence from readers.

AWR as Comedy

Joe Ervin from a Water Center in the midwest emailed the following: I just received your March newsletter (things move pretty slow up here in Michigan), and wanted to compliment you on the publication, especially the humor and quality of the reporting and writing. While our staff produces a good newsletter, there is a distinct lack of humor or risk taking with water-related issues. It was refreshing to read your newsletter, and I look forward to finding more recent issues buried on someone's desk. Thanks!

AWR as Tragedy

Roger Manning, Executive Director of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, took exception to a January AWR feature describing Consolidated-Geare's proposed sale or lease of Colorado River water to out-of-state buyers. Mr. Manning presents his objections:

The article states "The Arizona Department of Water Resources thus far has blocked any proposed interstate sales or leases. Officials of Consolidated-Geare, the district's major land owner, therefore are unable to negotiate water contracts." These statements present a number of problems:

1- It is the Colorado River Compact and the Law of the River which precludes the type of interstate water transfer envisioned by Geare, not DWR. DWR is simply protecting Arizona's interests by enforcing the law.

2- To my knowledge, Consolidate-Geare is not even a major land owner in the Cibola Irrigation District, let alone the major land owner. Geare apparently only has "options" to buy land and associated Colorado River contract rights. The exercise of the options, however, is contingent upon a clear ability to market those Colorado River contract rights across state lines. It should also be noted that while Cibola may have a contract diversion right of 24,000 acre-feet, they have a consumptive use of only about 14,500 acre-feet and only this consumptive use amount could be moved in any legal transaction.

Page 2 of the article contains the most frustrating and inaccurate statement: "Arizona has more water than it can presently use or pay for." While CAP agriculture will not be able to meet its original contract and financial obligations to the CAWCD, I fail to understand how anyone who has been paying any attention to the actions of the CAWCD could conclude that Arizona can't meet its responsibilities. The CAWCD has developed a water pricing schedule and financial package which guarantees payment of our CAP obligations.

Time, Temperature and Groundwater Depletion

John Gay of Las Quintas Serenas Water Company called to suggest that information about Tucson's dropping water table be better publicized by routinely reporting rates and amounts of groundwater depletion along with current precipitation rates and temperature averages. He believes this would help people to take conservation more seriously. Apparently, Mr. Gay doesn't appreciate the significance of conspicuous consumption. Read on.

Rising Tide of Civilization

Water flows again in the ancient Peruvian city of Machu Picchu. Its fountains splash and gurgle with water due to the efforts of researchers who believe that by measuring the flow and capacity of the city's water works, they can estimate its population and determine how its people lived. That doorside fountains delivered seven gallons per minute demonstrates an impressive level of civilization.

Gordan McEwan, director of the New World department at the Denver Art Museum, who has directed field work in Peru for 20 years, says, "By measuring the water, we can determine their use of the resource that made their empire go."

This is a troubling concept to Tucsonans. If water use does determine levels of civilization, then not only are Tucsonans' claims of moral superiority in doubt, we're less civilized than Phoenicians! And, by extension, the pleasure palaces of Vegas are the pinnacle of "western" civilization! Surely such civilizations are doomed to end, not with a bang, but a gurgle.

Coming in Future Issues

AWR resumes its monthly publication schedule with the August issue. Stories we are working on include a new remediation approach for TCE-contaminated groundwater and trends in water development fees.

As always, your letters, faxes and email (wrrc@ccit.arizona.edu) on previous issues and new story ideas are welcome.