Supreme Court sides with developer in water dispute
The Arizona Supreme Court has given the go-ahead to new development in and around Sierra Vista even if it could dry up the San Pedro River -- and even if it turns out that the home buyers later end up with nothing but sand coming out of their faucets.
Water agency director insists lawmakers can give him forbearance authority
The head of the state’s water agency insists that, contrary to the conclusions of a legislative attorney, lawmakers can authorize his department to “forbear” the use of water from the Colorado River.
Governor gives thumbs down on water proposals
Despite months spent hashing out water proposals behind closed doors, the governor doesn’t like what he sees in legislation meant to overhaul water policy.
No end near after 4 decades of water rights litigation
After 44 years, the adjudication of water rights in Arizona is still far from being resolved, and water policy experts say that resolving these competing claims is essential to providing certainty about water rights.
Water manager’s lobbyist costs under scrutiny, ban possible
The Central Arizona Project has paid more than $2.5 million for lobbyists in Arizona and Washington D.C. over the past five years, an analysis of the agency’s lobbying contracts shows.
Water policy remake stirs fight unlike others in state history
With Republican Gov. Doug Ducey convening water giants into meetings this summer, it’s become all the more apparent that major water players in Arizona, namely the state’s water department and its canal system, the Central Arizona Project, are at odds.
Agencies at odds over deal to send AZ water to California during drought
The Central Arizona Project tried to strike a deal to sell water to California for $18 million during the 2015 drought, which the state claims underscores the need for reforms to the water delivery system’s operations.
Conservation district wary of governor’s proposals on water
Arizona water bigwigs are meeting with the governor’s staff in an attempt to unify the state’s voice on water issues and come up with new ideas to conserve and manage water.
Central Arizona Water Conservation District plan is a risky gambit
If recent climatic experience has taught Arizonans anything, it is that the specter of drought is an ever-present proposition. Droughts of 30- or even 50-year durations are not unknown phenomena. So, even when Mother Nature blesses us with a wet year, like this year, water in the Southwest remains a scarce resource that must be managed cooperatively with a long-term view, if we are to assure that [...]
In slap to lawmakers, Ducey vetoes ‘bad’ water bills
Gov. Doug Ducey today vetoed two measures that could ease water-supply requirement for developers.
Ducey lifts hiring freeze for Department of Water Resources
The state’s water department will get to hire more workers to help with the myriad water issues facing the state.
Experts: Funding, staffing cuts undermining state’s water agency
In Arizona, there is hardly a more precious resource than water. That’s why some water experts point with alarm to deep cuts in funding and staffing at the state agency tasked with overseeing it, especially after years of drought and with a shortage looming on the Colorado River.