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Brief-Area Water Was Topic Of Economic Development Meeting
By Terri Jo Neff
Although long-term impacts on the San Pedro River need to be kept in mind, a rural water expert told a group of Economic Development leaders that the greater Benson area has "plenty of water" and should be able to support new businesses.
Tom Whitmer, manager of Regional Water Planning for Arizona's Department of Water-Resources (ADWR), said local water issues pose "no known obstacles" for growth from homes and businesses.
Speaking at a June 3 meeting hosted by-the Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group (AEDG), Whitmer told the group gathered at Cochise College - Benson Center that "there are plenty of businesses that can be brought in."
"The issue isn't that you don't have water... it's protecting the San Pedro River as you grow," explained Whitmer.
George Scott, Director of SAEDG and a former Benson Mayor, says the meeting with Whitmer was critical for separating water facts from fiction.
"Too many business, development, and government decisions have been caught up in unfounded rumors about water," said Scott. "It was time to understand the facts and shut down the rumors. Tom did a great job getting us all on the same page."
The City of Benson was represented at the meeting by City Manager Glenn Nichols, Mayor Mark Fenn, Finance Director Jim Cox, and Cheri Shull of the Public Works Department.
District 3 Supervisor Richard Searle and Natural Resources Director Carl Robie attended on behalf of Cochise County. Other attendees came from Bowie, Elfrida, and Willow Lakes, as well as the Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation and the Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization. A handful of business owners also attended.
Whitmer oversees ADWR'S rural watershed initiative, and as part of his job he attends several water meetings in Cochise County each month. He discussed the three scientific groundwater models available to assist in projecting future water demands and availability. He also spoke about a comprehensive study currently underway.
The study, Whitmer explained, is in the fourth year of what is planned to be a seven-year study. Continued funding of the study is in doubt because of budget concerns. "This is the one study I'd really like to see completed," said Whitmer, who admitted that funding limitations mean studies in other areas can't be undertaken until this study is finished.
Arizona's budget problem prompted a question from Searle, who led the County's efforts last year to adopt a water adequacy policy for residential subdivisions. Searle asked "Now that Cochise County requires developers to obtain ADWR Certification before a subdivision can be platted, will your budget issues impact this process?"
Whitmer replied that for now the agency should be able to fulfill their role in the water adequacy process, even if their budget is significantly cut.
Cochise County's adoption of the water adequacy rule "evens the playing field for good developers who would spend the money to get their certificates against a few others who ignored the process" and subdivided their lots without the certificate.
Whitmer's office will help small developers (up to 30 lots) in an effort to offset the cost of obtaining the now mandatory certification. That assistance is something Robie and Searle requested when the County adopted the policy in March 2008.
Noting that Cochise County "Is one of most active rural Counties" when it comes to understanding water, Whitmer said, "Your County has taken a real leadership role in addressing water issues. In some ways they are more proactive than Pima, Maricopa, and Pinal Counties."
According to Whitmer, much is known about local water because the "San Pedro River is one of the most studied rivers in the world and a lot of PhD's have been earned thanks to your river." Yet he believes the Benson area must understand the water issues facing the Sierra Vista area.
Because the San Pedro River flows northward "everything they (upper San Pedro Partnership) do to protect the flow of the river will benefit the Benson area."
Other topics Whitmer discussed included the water demands by the overgrown vegetation in the San Pedro River Riparian area, the status of the Central Arizona Project (CAP) which brings in Colorado River water, and the potential use of desalination plants for water from the Sea of Cortez.
One of the attendees was Steve Lenihan of the J-6 Ranch west of Benson. Lenihan mentioned that rumors about water issues surfaced during a 2007 rezoning effort. In order to disprove the rumors, the property owner and water company had to commission studies over and above what ADWR and the Arizona Corporation Commission required.
The problem Lenihan referenced, Whitmer admitted, resulted from a comment by an ADWR staff member that was improperly included in an ADWR document and was not substantiated by any studies. Whitmer encouraged any official or property owner faced with responding to questions or rumors about water issues to contact him directly. He also suggested the ADWR Water Atlas as a resource for understanding what is known about water. The Water Atlas is available at www.azwater.gov.
Another issue Whitmer discussed was the water demands for Solar Generation Plants or "Farms." Unlike small solar systems on rooftops or next to a building, solar farms can cover hundreds to thousands of acres and require a large amount of water to operate. "Some of these projects being proposed are in areas where water is a concern."
After the meeting, Whitmer was asked about the suitability of large facilities in the Benson area, such as a detention center. Whitmer acknowledged that water usage at such facilities in other parts of Arizona has been closely tracked, and he saw no water-related reason to turn away such projects from the local area.
SAEDG held a movie screening on June 27 at the Cochise College Benson Campus. Filmed at Old Tucson Studios' Western Movie Set in Mescal, "Dual: The Lone Drifter," featured several Cochise County residents in the cast and crew and utilized the services of several local businesses during production.
This event recognized the economic impact of movie-making in Cochise County and was co-sponsored by SAEDG with Old Tucson Studios, the Cochise County Film Office, the Cochise County Tourism Council, and the Benson / San Pedro Valley Chamber of Commerce.
For more details contact SAEDG at 520-586-2330.
Tom Whitmer, manager of Regional Water Planning for Arizona's Department of Water-Resources (ADWR), said local water issues pose "no known obstacles" for growth from homes and businesses.
Speaking at a June 3 meeting hosted by-the Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group (AEDG), Whitmer told the group gathered at Cochise College - Benson Center that "there are plenty of businesses that can be brought in."
"The issue isn't that you don't have water... it's protecting the San Pedro River as you grow," explained Whitmer.
George Scott, Director of SAEDG and a former Benson Mayor, says the meeting with Whitmer was critical for separating water facts from fiction.
"Too many business, development, and government decisions have been caught up in unfounded rumors about water," said Scott. "It was time to understand the facts and shut down the rumors. Tom did a great job getting us all on the same page."
The City of Benson was represented at the meeting by City Manager Glenn Nichols, Mayor Mark Fenn, Finance Director Jim Cox, and Cheri Shull of the Public Works Department.
District 3 Supervisor Richard Searle and Natural Resources Director Carl Robie attended on behalf of Cochise County. Other attendees came from Bowie, Elfrida, and Willow Lakes, as well as the Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation and the Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization. A handful of business owners also attended.
Whitmer oversees ADWR'S rural watershed initiative, and as part of his job he attends several water meetings in Cochise County each month. He discussed the three scientific groundwater models available to assist in projecting future water demands and availability. He also spoke about a comprehensive study currently underway.
The study, Whitmer explained, is in the fourth year of what is planned to be a seven-year study. Continued funding of the study is in doubt because of budget concerns. "This is the one study I'd really like to see completed," said Whitmer, who admitted that funding limitations mean studies in other areas can't be undertaken until this study is finished.
Arizona's budget problem prompted a question from Searle, who led the County's efforts last year to adopt a water adequacy policy for residential subdivisions. Searle asked "Now that Cochise County requires developers to obtain ADWR Certification before a subdivision can be platted, will your budget issues impact this process?"
Whitmer replied that for now the agency should be able to fulfill their role in the water adequacy process, even if their budget is significantly cut.
Cochise County's adoption of the water adequacy rule "evens the playing field for good developers who would spend the money to get their certificates against a few others who ignored the process" and subdivided their lots without the certificate.
Whitmer's office will help small developers (up to 30 lots) in an effort to offset the cost of obtaining the now mandatory certification. That assistance is something Robie and Searle requested when the County adopted the policy in March 2008.
Noting that Cochise County "Is one of most active rural Counties" when it comes to understanding water, Whitmer said, "Your County has taken a real leadership role in addressing water issues. In some ways they are more proactive than Pima, Maricopa, and Pinal Counties."
According to Whitmer, much is known about local water because the "San Pedro River is one of the most studied rivers in the world and a lot of PhD's have been earned thanks to your river." Yet he believes the Benson area must understand the water issues facing the Sierra Vista area.
Because the San Pedro River flows northward "everything they (upper San Pedro Partnership) do to protect the flow of the river will benefit the Benson area."
Other topics Whitmer discussed included the water demands by the overgrown vegetation in the San Pedro River Riparian area, the status of the Central Arizona Project (CAP) which brings in Colorado River water, and the potential use of desalination plants for water from the Sea of Cortez.
One of the attendees was Steve Lenihan of the J-6 Ranch west of Benson. Lenihan mentioned that rumors about water issues surfaced during a 2007 rezoning effort. In order to disprove the rumors, the property owner and water company had to commission studies over and above what ADWR and the Arizona Corporation Commission required.
The problem Lenihan referenced, Whitmer admitted, resulted from a comment by an ADWR staff member that was improperly included in an ADWR document and was not substantiated by any studies. Whitmer encouraged any official or property owner faced with responding to questions or rumors about water issues to contact him directly. He also suggested the ADWR Water Atlas as a resource for understanding what is known about water. The Water Atlas is available at www.azwater.gov.
Another issue Whitmer discussed was the water demands for Solar Generation Plants or "Farms." Unlike small solar systems on rooftops or next to a building, solar farms can cover hundreds to thousands of acres and require a large amount of water to operate. "Some of these projects being proposed are in areas where water is a concern."
After the meeting, Whitmer was asked about the suitability of large facilities in the Benson area, such as a detention center. Whitmer acknowledged that water usage at such facilities in other parts of Arizona has been closely tracked, and he saw no water-related reason to turn away such projects from the local area.
SAEDG held a movie screening on June 27 at the Cochise College Benson Campus. Filmed at Old Tucson Studios' Western Movie Set in Mescal, "Dual: The Lone Drifter," featured several Cochise County residents in the cast and crew and utilized the services of several local businesses during production.
This event recognized the economic impact of movie-making in Cochise County and was co-sponsored by SAEDG with Old Tucson Studios, the Cochise County Film Office, the Cochise County Tourism Council, and the Benson / San Pedro Valley Chamber of Commerce.
For more details contact SAEDG at 520-586-2330.
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