Shaun McKinnon, the CAGR, What? - Covering the Green Economy

The CAGR-What?
…or why it may be time to
re-activate the Arizona Navy
Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic

Do we have enough water?
…enough for what?

Questions three
How much water do we have?
Who uses it?
Where will we find more?

Arizona’s water budget
SURFACE WATER
Colorado River 2.8 million acre-feet (39.8 percent)
1.5 million acre-feet delivered through the Central Arizona
Project canal to Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties
1.3 million acre-feet diverted from the river

In-state rivers 1 million acre-feet (14.2 percent)
600,000 acre-feet from the Salt and Verde rivers
400,000 acre-feet from the Gila and other rivers

GROUNDWATER 3.1 million acre-feet (43.6 percent)

RECLAIMED 200,000 acre-feet (2.4 percent)
WATER

TOTAL7.1 million acre-feet

Arizona’s water users

Pulling weeds

Cloud seeding

Desalination

But is there enough?

100 years of … what?
To build homes in Arizona’s cities you must have 100 years of renewable water.
…except when you don’t

Meet the CGA .. CAR … CA#@&%
The Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District

Out one well, in … somewhere
Dry
Estates
RECHARGE
BASIN

It’s C-A-G-R-D

Paper water

Paying (for) the pipers
So far, the CAGRD has used ‘excess’ Colorado River water to offset groundwater use. A typical assessment for a CAGRD homeowner is $100 or less each year.

…but the excess water won’t last much longer
2100 = 3.6 million acre-feet, 15.2 million people
2075 = 3.1 million acre-feet,12.9 million people
2045 = 2.4 million acre-feet,10.2 million people
2030 = 2.0 million acre-feet, 8.5 million people

An obligation forever
The CAGRD’s recharge obligation will continue to grow, forcing the district to buy water on the open market …
…and water assessments will grow as well … $500 … $1,000 …

Then where will Arizona get the water?

Shaun McKinnon, the CAGR, What? - Covering the Green Economy

by Reynolds Center for Business Journalism on Jun 24, 2010

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Shaun McKinnon, the CAGR, What? - Covering the Green Economy — Presentation Transcript