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Editorial: Suddenly, it’s time to get to know the CAP system better
For years, residents of the Santa Cruz Valley have looked longingly at the Colorado River water that is in the Central Arizona Project system that ends at Pima Mine Road.
Now, there are two proposals to extend the system to recharge points in the Sahuarita and Green Valley areas.
The first was proposed in 2007 by Community Water Company of Green Valley and would be funded by Augusta Resource, the company behind the Rosemont Copper mine proposal. The proposed 36-inch-diameter pipeline would extend the CAP system south at a cost estimated at $15 million to $18 million.
In August Farmers Investment Co. proposed a second pipeline carrying Colorado River water to Sahuarita and eventually to Green Valley, in partnership with American Nevada Co., developer of the proposed 15,000-unit Mission Peaks project west of Sahuarita.
Officials of the federal Bureau of Reclamation last week acknowledged they had failed to adequately publicize a Green Valley hearing on the CWC-Augusta pipeline.
The bureau also failed to satisfy critics when its officials said they would consider the pipeline separately from the Forest Service consideration of the copper mine, which is highly controversial. As numerous speakers said, there would be no pipeline proposal had there been no copper mine proposal, and the mine has said its goal is to recharge as much water as it draws from the local aquifer.
It is expected a draft environmental assessment will be available by the end of 2008. It will be posted on the agency Web site at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/phoenix.
Once the draft EA is published, the agency will take public comments on it and will hold a public meeting in Green Valley.
Meanwhile, the fact that there are two proposals may give local water companies some choice in the matter. It also means that local residents and officials need to get acquainted in a hurry with the CAP system, which is overseen by an elected board.
We know what you are thinking — not another set of elected officials to investigate, but that’s how it works in a democracy. Plus, you probably haven’t been bombarded by attack ads or warm and fuzzy family commercials for these candidates.
One way to get to know these candidates before November’s election is to attend a candidate forum being held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the Northwest Community Center, 2160 N. 6th Ave. in Tucson.
The forum is hosted by Sustainable Tucson, which will be holding a general meeting that includes the forum.
CAP policies greatly affect our state at this time of diminishing water supplies, climate change, and shifts in the pricing and supply of energy. CAP officials have acknowledged that the amount of Colorado River water available to Arizonans may diminish in the future and that CAP is looking to acquire new water supplies, including desalination plants.
For quick reference, the CAP Web site is http://www.cap-az.com/ and a recent article about CAP’s new role is in the latest Water Resources Research Center bulletin (see the guest view) at http://www.ag.arizona.edu/azwater/awr/.
It is important that the public be aware of the positions of CAP board candidates, and of the new role CAP is defining for itself.
Now, there are two proposals to extend the system to recharge points in the Sahuarita and Green Valley areas.
The first was proposed in 2007 by Community Water Company of Green Valley and would be funded by Augusta Resource, the company behind the Rosemont Copper mine proposal. The proposed 36-inch-diameter pipeline would extend the CAP system south at a cost estimated at $15 million to $18 million.
In August Farmers Investment Co. proposed a second pipeline carrying Colorado River water to Sahuarita and eventually to Green Valley, in partnership with American Nevada Co., developer of the proposed 15,000-unit Mission Peaks project west of Sahuarita.
Officials of the federal Bureau of Reclamation last week acknowledged they had failed to adequately publicize a Green Valley hearing on the CWC-Augusta pipeline.
The bureau also failed to satisfy critics when its officials said they would consider the pipeline separately from the Forest Service consideration of the copper mine, which is highly controversial. As numerous speakers said, there would be no pipeline proposal had there been no copper mine proposal, and the mine has said its goal is to recharge as much water as it draws from the local aquifer.
The bureau is taking comments until Sept. 12 on the pipeline. Comments can be made by mail at U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area office, 6150 W. Thunderbird Road, Glendale AZ. 85306-4001, Attention PXAO-1500 (Ms. Sandra Eto). Also, by faxogram at (623) 773-6486. Comments can also be e-mailed to Sandra Eto at seto@lc.usbr.gov.
It is expected a draft environmental assessment will be available by the end of 2008. It will be posted on the agency Web site at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/phoenix.
Once the draft EA is published, the agency will take public comments on it and will hold a public meeting in Green Valley.
Meanwhile, the fact that there are two proposals may give local water companies some choice in the matter. It also means that local residents and officials need to get acquainted in a hurry with the CAP system, which is overseen by an elected board.
We know what you are thinking — not another set of elected officials to investigate, but that’s how it works in a democracy. Plus, you probably haven’t been bombarded by attack ads or warm and fuzzy family commercials for these candidates.
One way to get to know these candidates before November’s election is to attend a candidate forum being held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the Northwest Community Center, 2160 N. 6th Ave. in Tucson.
The forum is hosted by Sustainable Tucson, which will be holding a general meeting that includes the forum.
CAP policies greatly affect our state at this time of diminishing water supplies, climate change, and shifts in the pricing and supply of energy. CAP officials have acknowledged that the amount of Colorado River water available to Arizonans may diminish in the future and that CAP is looking to acquire new water supplies, including desalination plants.
For quick reference, the CAP Web site is http://www.cap-az.com/ and a recent article about CAP’s new role is in the latest Water Resources Research Center bulletin (see the guest view) at http://www.ag.arizona.edu/azwater/awr/.
It is important that the public be aware of the positions of CAP board candidates, and of the new role CAP is defining for itself.
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