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| The Myth of Safe Yield: Pursuing Safe Yield Isn’t Saving Our Groundwater Friday, November 12, 2021, 3-5 pm ZOOM Meeting. Register in advance HERE After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We’re not going to make it. Attaining a balance between groundwater withdrawal and replenishment, known as “safe yield,” in the Prescott Active Management Area by 2025 has been a goal of the Arizona Groundwater Management Act since the perils of groundwater overuse were officially recognized in 1980. But achieving the 2025 target date is, by all scientific accounts, impossible. Kathleen Ferris, a consultant with the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, will explain how loopholes in Arizona water law endanger the region’s aquifer and also undermine the very notion of safe yield. Discussion points will include the ambiguities in safe yield legislation, Arizona water laws that allow groundwater to be pumped at an unsustainable rate, insufficient conservation efforts that haven’t offset increasing water demands, and the “aridification” of the region that is further impacting the area’s water supply. Ferris will also explain specific challenges in the Quad-City area, such as the region’s lack of access to water supplies other than groundwater. CWAG is a local citizens group advocating for a secure water future for Prescott and central Yavapai County and for the protection of the upper Verde River. For more information, visit CWAG’s Facebook page, or email [email protected] |