Cities warn Pinal farmers not to push for more water
by Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services
An organization that represents major Arizona cities is effectively warning Pinal County farmers not to demand more in in the proposed drought contingency plan.
Warren Tenney, executive director of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, said he believes the plan, delivered to lawmakers this week and awaiting legislative action, has been more than generous to the farmers.
It includes a promise of 105,000 acre feet of Colorado River water for the next three years, 70,000 acre feet of groundwater for four years after that. The draft legislation also includes $5 million in state cash to drill wells and construct delivery systems for that water.