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Tucson Region

Central Arizona Water Conservation District

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.19.2008
Why are you running?
Zimmerman: I consider myself a strong advocate for promoting reliable and renewable water supplies for Southern Arizona.
Gabaldón: I am committed to sustainable water supplies for our area and the reliable delivery of drinking water. As a CPA and water operator with over 20 years of water industry experience, I will be an effective representative for Pima County.
Jacobs: Water is the most important issue for people who live in the desert. I would bring the view of the water user to the board deliberations.
Tenney: To ensure Pima County is represented by someone familiar with water issues, who will commit to the time and effort required for the next six years.
Megdal: I believe my knowledge of water policy and management and experience of public boards can contribute to good decision-making.
Lenihan: I'm running because water is the most significant resource anywhere. In Arizona, it is even more significant due to its scarcity. Nothing could be more important to Arizona's future than managing this resource properly.
What steps should be taken to prepare for an eventual shortage of CAP water?
Tenney: That's when the Arizona Water Banking Authority would kick in, to allow pumping of water that's been stored for such a situation.
Jacobs: Increase water recharge, and after education of the public, have public devise other methods of conservation.
Gabaldón: Without the necessary storage, Southern Arizona has been denied the reliability it was promised would come with the Central Arizona Project. I would work with the CAP board for local reliable water storage.
Lenihan: A long-term shortage could be avoided by acquiring additional water from such sources as on-river water rights, effluent and desalinization. Also develop better storage for short-term shortages.
Megdal: The Arizona Water Banking Authority has, since 1997, stored thousands of acre-feet of water for times of shortage. A recovery plan for that water must be developed. Utilities' drought and shortage plans be publicized.
Zimmerman: In times of shortage, much work has been done to protect municipal water users by assuring cuts to less-critical users first. In a critical shortage, water can be drawn from the underground water bank where it was deposited.
Where will our future water supply come from? How would you supplement current supplies?
Lenihan: See responses above.
Jacobs: The long-term supply of water in Arizona is from outside the state, which will require continued negotiation with our neighbors and the use of technology to harvest waters that we do not now do.
Megdal: Beyond obtaining additional Colorado River water, some solutions may include reducing use of high-quality groundwater for non-human needs. Conservation or demand reductions must be part of the overall approach.
Zimmerman: The CAP board is actively involved in a water stakeholder process to seek, acquire and distribute new water supplies.
Gabaldón: The CAP capacity can be expanded, with major investment and effort. Different options for water supplies will likely include desalination, lease of high-priority Colorado River water, etc.
Tenney: The CAWCD is currently looking at how new water supplies could be shared and how it would be paid for. I want to ensure Pima County receives its fair share of any new supply.
Should water policy be used to encourage or discourage growth? How? Why?
Gabaldón: Issues of local growth should be decided locally — not by the CAP board. Our local elected representatives know our community much better than CAP staff.
Lenihan: It would be imprudent to preclude any growth by failing to provide for future water supplies.
Tenney: Decisions about growth are made by local governing bodies, though I would hope water professionals are consulted.
Zimmerman: Central Arizona water policy should not be used to encourage or discourage growth. I believe strongly that each community should decide how and in what way they grow.
Jacobs: I encourage smarter growth using hands-on methods of better use of water and water conversation.
Megdal: I don't think water policy should be used to either encourage or discourage growth. Rather, water policy should reflect the water management goals of the region.
Should it be more difficult to join the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District, allowing developers to pump more groundwater in return for recharging it elsewhere?
Megdal: The 2004 CAGRD Plan showed a large and growing replenishment obligation but little firm water supplies to meet that obligation. Vigilant oversight of how that obligation is growing and how it is to be met is needed.
Gabaldón: Today in Southern Arizona, we see excessive pumping in the Cañada del Oro and Green Valley/Sahuarita areas while the groundwater is being replenished elsewhere. Until this issue is addressed, the needs of the area are not being met.
Jacobs: I would review this practice and apply a test of reasonable replenishment of water in the area served before permitting groundwater pumping.
Tenney: I would like to see the CAWCD work more closely with ADWR to look at how state rules can be improved to create a closer connection between the area of pumping and where replenishment occurs.
Lenihan: Not necessarily. However, long-term, we do need to provide for replenishment in the area of withdrawal.
Zimmerman: It would take a change in legislation, not CAP board policies, to make it more difficult to join the CAGRD.
Warren Tenney
Age: 47.
Occupation: assistant general manager, Metro Water District.
Residence: Tucson.
Education: M.A., history.
Public offices held: none.
The biggest issue facing my constituents is: Protecting the region's renewable water supply.
Stephen J. Lenihan
Age: 57.
Occupation: attorney.
Residence: Oro Valley
Education: B.S. in business administration-accounting, University of Arizona; juris doctorate, UA.
Public offices held: none.
The biggest issue facing my constituents is: A potential shortage of water, whether due to drought or interruption in the CAP canal delivery.
Pat Jacobs
Age: 67.
Occupation: retired court administrator and dog breeder.
Residence: Tucson.
Education: B.A. in history and Master's of Public Administration, University of Arizona.
Public offices held: chair, Northwest Fire District board.
The biggest issue facing my constituents is: The conservation of water.
Carol E. Zimmerman
Age: 58.
Occupation: public affairs consultant.
Residence: Tucson.
Education: B.S.N., nursing, University of Arizona.
Public offices held: Central Arizona Water Conservation District (elected 2002).
The biggest issue facing my constituents is: Understanding the bigger picture, beyond Tucson politics and the need for protecting CAP water.
Arturo Raúl Gabaldón
Age: 46.
Occupation: president, Community Water Co. of Green Valley.
Residence: Sahuarita.
Education: B.S. in business administration from University of Arizona; M.B.A., University of Phoenix.
Public offices held: none.
The biggest issue facing my constituents is: A lack of public awareness of the water issues needed to effectively compete for water for Southern Arizona.
Sharon B. MegdaL
Age: 56.
Occupation: Professor and administrator, University of Arizona.
Residence: Tucson.
Education: Ph.D. and M.A. in economics, Princeton University; A.B. in economics, Douglass College of Rutgers University.
Public offices held: Arizona Corporation Commission.
The biggest issue facing my constituents is: Growth, the drought and managing groundwater replenishment.
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