- Governor Hobbs announces $1.5 million grant for water recharge project.
- Environmental groups criticize the grant as insufficient.
- Tension arises over approaches to protect the San Pedro River.
November 6, 2024 — Late last month, Arizona’s Governor Katie Hobbs joined environmental advocates and local officials to announce a $1.5 million grant for Cochise County to complete the Coyote Wash Stormwater Management Project on the San Pedro River. The initiative aims to capture additional precipitation and stormwater to recharge the aquifer, protect river flows, and improve water quality.
“The San Pedro River is a one-of-a-kind desert river that plays a critical role in the habitat and ecosystem of the region,” said Governor Hobbs
. “This funding isn’t just dollars and cents; it’s a down payment on the state’s long-term commitment to securing Arizona’s water future.”
Local leaders expressed gratitude for the support. Sierra Vista Mayor Clea McCaa remarked, “As the major migratory corridor for wildlife, the San Pedro River is crucial for both the health of our environment and for the vitality of our communities here in Cochise County.”
“The Nature Conservancy is thankful for the investment by Governor Hobbs in the Cochise Conservation and Recharge Network’s Coyote Wash Project,” said Kim Schonek, The Nature Conservancy’s Arizona Water Program Director. “Long-term collaboration with state, local, and federal partners combined with sound science led to the development and design of this project. These efforts are key examples of how water managers can plan for a resilient future that balances water needs for communities and nature.”
.Center for Biological Diversity and San Pedro 100 Threaten Litigation.
Despite the announcement, some environmental groups criticized the grant as insufficient to address the pressing water issues facing the San Pedro River. The Center for Biological Diversity referred to the governor’s visit as a “PR stunt” and called the project “ineffective and inconsequential.”
“Gov. Hobbs’s PR stunt at the San Pedro this week was a poor attempt to show she actually cares about the river or is concerned about Arizona’s environmental legacy,” said Robin Silver, co-founder of the Center for Biological Diversity. “We’ll keep fighting for the river until the Hobbs administration finally comes to terms with the fact that the days of development on the Upper San Pedro have come to an end.”
The Center for Biological Diversity says it has filed complaints calling on the governor to review and revoke 100-year designations of adequate water for 35 subdivisions in the Sierra Vista area. Those complaints have gone unanswered and await pending litigation.
“The homes would rely on groundwater that is no longer available after a recent Water Adjudication Court ruling,” the Center stated. The groundwater in question feeds the nearby San Pedro River, the Southwest’s last free-flowing river and a vital lifeline for plants and animals in southeastern Arizona.
“This lawsuit forced the governor to finally face the simple reality that there’s just not enough water for existing homes in Sierra Vista, let alone more development,” said Silver.
The Arizona Republic reports additional information about the ongoing tensions and litigation.
Top Image:
Distant view of Sierra Vista from Fort Huachuca
. Released into the public domain by its author, Alb8001 at English Wikipedia.
Leave a Reply