Deadline approaches for Pinal County water board to submit work program

The Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority Board of Directors met recently to discuss its collaboratively designed program of work for the years 2008-2011, which is due in draft format for consideration of approval at 7 a.m. July 15 at 820 E. Cottonwood Lane, Suite A-1, Casa Grande.

Included are PCWAA’s proposals on how to address the inter-agency agreements with the municipalities and its listed expectations of the executive director.

Contributing member municipalities are the cities of Eloy, Casa Grande, Town of Florence and Pinal County. Components of the program of work include: Projects and Programs, Funding, Policy, Operations, Administration, Communications and Research.

PCWAA has reviewed and contributed to the Local Drought Impact Group (LDIG), developed under the Governor’s Drought Preparedness Plan, by drafting a Moving Forward Plan. PCWAA will provide ongoing assistance with LDIG’s implementation programs as they are created.

A Web site is being developed and should be up and running by the next Board meeting. It includes the basic elements of PCWAA’s overview brochure, as well as postings of documents, links to other agencies, and contact information.

Glinda Weddle is retiring from PCWAA staff, at great loss to the Board. She has accepted additional responsibilities at the Central Arizona Irrigation and Drainage District, as well as is now a member of the Eloy Planning and Zoning Commission.

There is a Central Arizona Project recovery meeting to discuss developing detailed recovery plans of significant amounts of stored water in the Pinal Active Management Area. Chuck Cullom is conducting an initial meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. July 11 at the Arizona Department of Water Resources, 1729 N. Trekell Road, Suite 105, in Casa Grande.

Arizona Department of Water Resources is required to provide baseline funding up to $200,000 to PCWAA’s operations. There is some discussion whether that will continue from the current pumping tax or come from the Arizona Water Bank.

Outreach to statutorily eligible members has resulted in additional participation (ARS 45-1901-1999). These members include: Pinal County, city of Casa Grande, city of Coolidge, city of Eloy, city of Maricopa, town of Florence, Central Arizona Irrigation and Drainage District, Gila River Indian Irrigation and Drainage District, Hohokam Irrigation and Drainage District, Maricopa-Stanfield Irrigation and Drainage District, San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District, Gila River Indian Community, Ak-Chin Indian Community, Tohono O’odham Nation, Private Water Utility Companies with a CAP Allocation and Private Water Utility Companies without a CAP Allocation.

Volunteers are appreciated for continuing to work on an outreach database so that those interested may keep current on PCWAA’s progress.

If you go:
What: Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority meeting
When: 7 a.m. July 15
Where: 820 E. Cottonwood Lane, A-1, Casa Grande.
Information: Barbara Massey-Nino, executive director, PCWAA, 501 E. Laurel Drive, Casa Grande; (520) 560-3355 or [email protected].

Image submitted by PCWAA