Letter to the Editor | Casa Grande Dispatch
Some say “whiskey and water” are different — however, those who say this forget the fact it takes wet water to make whiskey. Currently in Pinal County we have a real water policy issue that needs to be addressed: water extinguishment credits. As two of your state representatives, we are dedicated to finding a solution and we believe the issue needs to be solved in a manner that satisfies the needs of today and the needs of the future for all of Pinal County’s agriculture, landowners and water users.
Complex water policy is like the grieving process — it has several stages and sometimes people get trapped in one of them. One of the traps we seek to avoid is: “Bringing in the new at the expense of the existing.” We are dedicated to a policy solution with long-lasting, positive results.
Problem solving requires at least three distinct stages: 1) Identify the problem; 2) Build a commitment to solve; and 3) Develop a solution. On the current water issue in Pinal County the first stage has already occurred — a 40- to 50-year annual phase-out of “extinguishment credits” for Pinal County’s agricultural lands will not work. The rule is a problem for farmers, ranchers and water users in Pinal County. It traps us into a process of allowing for bringing in the new at the expense of the existing.
Since the problem has been identified and it is clear we need a better solution — we are dedicated to building the commitment that is needed. An extremely transparent process is needed — where all of Pinal County’s agriculture, landowners and water users get together and find a solution that meets their needs for today and into the future.
Part of the current problem is the “water extinguishment credit” rule tried to resolve long-term future water issues in a fashion that recognized agriculture and growth by rewarding those that developed first. In addition, it did nothing to alleviate the problem of developing on lands (raw desert) that never previously had a historic water use. As you can see, the current rule is lacking.
Because of the complexity of this issue; its impact on property rights; and the limitations of our groundwater aquifer — it requires a very transparent and locally led process to get to the final stage: developing a solution. We desire that a long-term solution come from a participation process where the farmers, ranchers, citizens and water users bring us a thoroughly vetted and broadly supported solution.
We commit to the citizens of Pinal County the following: We will work toward a real solution that means wet water far into your future. We will do this for your farms, for your families, for your jobs and for our economic future in Pinal County.
Signed: Rep. Frank Pratt R-Casa Grande Rep. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge
Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Farmers Against State Takings
