The Prescott area in Central Arizona is home to about 130,000 people. The area has a pretty reliable and plentiful water supply. But, full access to the water supply is being questioned by areas to the south.
The Big Chino aquifer, located 10 miles north of the city of Prescott, covers 1,850 square miles and is the source of the Verde River. The Verde River is one of the only constantly running rivers in Arizona. The cities of Prescott Valley and Prescott, the towns of Chino Valley and Dewey all rely on the Big Chino for their water supply. The Big Chino has been determined to be plenty for a 100 year water supply for the Prescott area. The question is; Can water be constantly drawn from the Big Chino without greatly effecting the flow of the Verde River?
The Verde River flows south toward Phoenix forming Bartlett Lake and Horeshoe Reservior. The river and the lakes provide irrigation and a back-up water supply for the 4.5 million residents of the Phoenix area.
In 2004, The Arizona Department of Water Resources approved the Big Chino Water Ranch project essentially assuring the Prescott area of its 100 year water supply. Salt River Project, which provides utilties to thousands of people in the Phoenix area 100 miles to the south, has been fighting the Big Chino Ranch project since its inception. SRP claims that its surface water rights will be effected by the Prescott area's pumping project. Goto http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/arizona-capitol-times/mi_8079/is_20091105/srp-loses-prescott-water-ranch/ai_n51712007/ for more details.
The Big Chino aquifer
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