Tom Buschatzke: Keeping Arizona’s faucets functioning
For nearly 10 years, Tom Buschatzke has been the arbiter of Arizona’s water supply as director of the Department of Water Resources. In a career spanning decades and beginning with […]
Arizona needs forward-thinking legislators on land and water use
Rising water and energy costs will force the decline of traditional agriculture in the desert Southwest. But transferring groundwater rights from farmlands to real estate developers is not a sustainable option. Desert living requires desert thinking.
Feds outline ‘necessary steps’ for Colorado River agreement by 2026 but no recommendation yet
Federal water officials made public on Wednesday what they called “necessary steps” for seven states and multiple tribes that use Colorado River water and hydropower to meet an August 2026 […]
Arizona nears approval for advanced water purification
It’s been discussed and debated for decades. But Arizona is finally at the point where cities and utilities will soon be able to get permits to deliver drinking water to […]
Limited growth and increased spending needs pose tough choices for Hobbs
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs won’t have much room for new spending on education, water or just about anything else in the remaining two years of her initial term as Arizona’s […]
Confronting cognitive dissonance – why Arizona leaders must bridge the disconnect between voter priorities and policy outcomes
There’s a disconnect in Arizona’s political landscape – one that goes beyond the partisanship and division that dominate headlines. Despite what it may seem, Arizonans across the political spectrum have […]
Water policy is on the minds of voters as drought continues
A vast majority of Arizona voters support securing long-term water supplies and enacting stronger groundwater protections, but have little faith in Arizona’s current water policies’ ability to sew long term […]
Six candidates are running to represent county on CAP board
Among the many races and ballot measures Maricopa County voters will decide on in November is an election for the county’s water regulation body – the Central Arizona Water Conservation […]
Rural water reform requires resources
To make progress in securing rural Arizona’s water future, Arizona must commit to protecting the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund. Failing to do so would be a costly mistake.
Water authority has been unofficial rainy-day fund
For the upcoming legislative session, the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority hopes to avoid further cuts and prove the agency’s worth to lawmakers after the Legislature cut the agency’s funding by […]
Water director wants $1M for potential lawsuit over sharing Colorado River
The state’s top water official is making contingency plans for a court fight if a deal can’t be worked out with other states for how to divide up Colorado River […]
Hobbs vetoes slew of water bills
Gov. Katie Hobbs on Wednesday vetoed five bills changing water laws in Arizona, concluding they would cause more harm than good.