Henry Wade: Sustainable growth through partnership

According to farm bureau estimates, 1-acre foot of water can supply domestic needs of two families of four for one year. Additionally, those eight people may indirectly consume an average of 8-acre feet of water per year through the food they eat.

Given that information, the recent decision of the Gila River Indian Community, our county neighbors, to partner with Salt River Project making 30,000-acre feet of water available during a 100-year lease period is encouraging.

This is certainly good news for neighbor relationships and community support but it also has a significant impact on Pinal County’s future economic development. Our agri-business leaders will no doubt see this as a positive development as well.

Pinal County now has an additional economic development bargaining tool that will benefit us for years to come. It is also noteworthy the current chairman of the Board of Supervisors, David Snider, played a leadership role in moving forward with this action as he is considered, by most to be an authority on the county’s water issues.

This type of vision and positive leadership fit precisely in line with the first tenant of my vision for Pinal County, job creation/sustainable growth, and makes me very excited for the county’s future.