By Melissa Johnson | Rose Law Group Reporter
Gov. Doug Ducey on Tuesday said he would be vigilant in working with the federal government to address water concerns.
He told the East Valley Partnership 2015 SRP Forum in Tempe good planning, management and policy will continue to keep Arizona optimistic despite uncertainties, vulnerabilities and challenges.
In a separate meeting, Ducey told reporters he was unwilling to say farmers should stop growing crops such as cotton in the desert, which uses 70 percent of the water supply.
Ducey told reporters “cotton is one of the five Cs, (cotton, citrus, cattle, copper and climate) it’s going to continue to be one of the five Cs.”
Sarah Porter, director at Kyl Center for Water Policy, said Arizona must strike a balance between quality of life and water conservation. In the past 60 years, Arizona’s population and Gross Domestic Income have greatly increased while demand for water has decreased. She noted the decrease of residential water usage is, in part, because of more efficient appliances and landscaping. This has helped strengthen the economy, along with growing tourism and high tech industry, Porter said.
SRP is actively working to store water with the Gila River Indian Community, Porter said. She also stressed the importance of maintaining the state’s forests as fires greatly diminish groundwater, which was echoed by Ducey.
Ducey said it is imperative Arizona fight for its share of water, but the state is sufficiently prepared to face the 16th year of drought.
He said Arizona has been proactive in water management since before statehood, adding it uses less and stores more now than in 1957.
Finding ways to augment water supplies in Arizona is key to future growth, Ducey said.
