Tortolita Alliance (TA) attended the Local Drought Impact Group (LDIG) Meeting via Microsoft Team today (May 11, 2022).
LDIG is a bi-monthly gathering of local and state water agencies to discuss latest drought conditions across the state of AZ. Attendees include: TA, Marana Water, Tucson Water, Metro Water, National Weather Service-Tucson, Central Arizona Project (CAP), Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), Pima County Office of Sustainability & Conservation (OSC) and more. The following information was gleaned from the meeting.
62% of Arizona in Severe Drought
Good Monsoon Predicted Which Will Ease Wildfire Threat In July
Colorado River Update
Spring Runoff-60% of normal expected
Lake Powell-if elevation 3,490 is reached, it will not only impact hydroelectric power generation but also water releases to Lake Mead as by-pass tubes will need to be used that could do damage to dam infrastructure
USBR & Basin States-monitoring daily
Shortage Tiers & Emergency Drought Plan Stages
Colorado River-Lake Mead Current Elevation-1053 (Shortage Tier 1)
Colorado River will most likely be in Shortage Tier 2a in 2023
Colorado River will could be in Shortage Tier 2b or Tier 3 (impacts Pima County water agencies-M&I) in 2024
Tucson Water-implemented its Drought Emergency Plan Stage 1-voluntary conservation
Marana Water-implemented its Drought Emergency Plan Stage 2-voluntary conservation
Arizona Water Officials meeting to discuss use of Arizona Water Banking Authority stored groundwater to prepare for Tier 3 shortage cuts