STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX \u2013 The Arizona House of Representatives took a critical step this week toward addressing the state\u2019s pressing groundwater challenges on Tuesday, as the House Committee on Natural Resources, Energy, and Water advanced House Concurrent Memorial 2003 (HCM2003).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sponsored by Representative Gail Griffin, Chairman of the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee, the measure urges the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the State Land Department to invest in stormwater recharge infrastructure at 331 sites on state trust land that the agencies have identified as suitable for maximizing groundwater recharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCounty supervisors, flood control districts, and natural resource conservation districts have the authority to construct stormwater detention basins and other constructive infrastructure that increase groundwater recharge,\u201d said Representative Griffin. \u201cLocal and county officials should push the Governor\u2019s Department of Water Resources and State Land Department to develop these projects within their communities to increase local water supplies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Governor Hobbs budget allocate zero dollars toward the development of these sites or toward the development of new stormwater recharge infrastructure in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOver 95 percent of rainfall in the state evaporates before it can naturally recharge aquifers,\u201d said Representative Griffin. \u201cIncreasing the amount of natural recharge by only a few percentage points would increase the amount of local water supplies substantially.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Projects like Horseshoe Draw Recharge Project in Cochise County and Hualapai Flood Control Project in Mohave County are examples of projects that increase local supplies without expanding the size of government or imposing top-down government regulations on rural industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HCM2003 advances the 2025 House Majority Plan by preserving the American Dream through increased water security without infringing on individual rights and liberties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe solution to unleashing economic prosperity in rural Arizona through increased water supplies is investing in additional groundwater-stormwater recharge,\u201d added Representative Griffin. \u201cLocal communities have tools do address rural groundwater issues. We need to work together to utilize those tools to secure our long-term water supplies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HCM2003\u2019s eventual adoption will signal unequivocal legislative support for enhanced groundwater recharge and send a strong message to the Governor, state agencies, and local officials about the importance of encouraging strategic investments to secure Arizona\u2019s water future and of developing the 331 sites to ensure a secure water supply, particularly in areas of the state that rely primarily on groundwater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gail Griffin is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 19, which includes areas of Greenlee, Graham, Cochise, and eastern Pima and Santa Cruz Counties. Griffin chairs the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX \u2013 The Arizona House of Representatives took a critical step this week toward addressing the state\u2019s pressing groundwater challenges on Tuesday, as the House Committee on Natural Resources, Energy, and Water advanced House Concurrent Memorial 2003 (HCM2003). Sponsored by Representative Gail Griffin, Chairman of the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2217,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-california-arizona"],"yoast_head":"\n