Groundwater Awareness League March 26, 2007 Representative Jonathan Paton Dear Rep. Paton, I live in Green Valley in District 30. I had been dealing with local officials thinking that they would do something about the water situation here. We were waiting for an ADWR modeling report, which was released last year. As everyone suspected, the water levels in Green Valley will be down 125 to 150 feet in 2025. Frankly, I thought this would be critical enough for ADWR to stop issuing 100 year water supply certificates in this area. However, I was mistaken, even though they say we are sure to have serious subsidence. The problem is the Arizona Laws in regard to water. Governor Hull’s 2001 water commission report clearly defined water problems within the AMA’s. Even so, the Arizona legislators refused to act on the advice of these experts. Two things have to be done to save Green Valley—and other areas of serious depletion and critical water issues within AMA’s. 1) There must be a hydrological study showing at what levels there will be subsidence instead of pumping water down to 1,000 feet in one hundred years (which in itself is not water management). 2) There must be “safe yield” throughout the AMA. As it is now, extra water in Avra Valley will balance out serious deficits that exist in Green Valley. With this policy, Green Valley will be sacrificed before 100 years is up. Sincerely, Nancy Freeman, |