Cave Creek council approves water drought status, water-sharing initiative

By Jeff Wendt
Mail

The Cave Creek Town Council approved its 2027 water drought status along with a water-sharing initiative during its meeting Tuesday night.

The Town entered into Response Stage 1 of its Drought Management Plan, initiating a “water watch” stage.

At this stage, town customers are expected to be able to receive most or all of the water they would take in a normal year. Under Response Stage 1, there are no mandatory restrictions, but the plan requires increased water conservation education and outreach. The goal is for customers to voluntarily conserve 3% to 5% of their normal water use.

“Our objective is to stay out of mandatory reductions,” Cave Creek Mayor Robert Morris said. “And by declaring this and focusing on this opinion, this is a way to public help for it if nothing else.”

The declaration comes after the Bureau of Land Management announced a 20% cut of Colorado River water distributed to Arizona.

The Central Arizona Project has worked to make a 14% cut to Cave Creek’s water supply for 2027. The Arizona Water Banking Authority is helping Cave Creek come up with the difference to make sure the town has an adequate water supply.

The hope, according to Utilities Director Shawn Kreuzwiesner, is that the AWBA would be able to deliver the water through the Phoenix Interconnect, which Kreuzwiesner said should be up and running later this month.

But Kreuzwiesner wanted to assure the council and the residents in attendance that Cave Creek’s demands for water would be met and there would not be any shortages for next year.

The council also approved a measure allowing the mayor to enter into any agreements with the Secure Water Arizona Program to help bridge any gaps that Cave Creek may encounter.

The initiative was started by the cities of Phoenix and Tucson and was designed to help Arizona communities manage potential cutbacks from the Colorado River. The program includes an emergency reserve intended to provide short-term relief, an offset reduction mechanism to coordinate longer-term supplies, and a marketplace to connect willing buyers and sellers of water.

“The cities of Phoenix and Tucson deserve considerable credit for the creation of the Secure Water Arizona Program,” Town Manager Grady Miller said.

Water attorney Michele Van Quathem said that an agreement between the initial parties is very close to completion.

“The parties are still making small changes, and some of the programs you might want to look at, those will be developed probably through the end of the year,” Van Quathem said.

Miller stressed what the program is meant to be.

“This is designed to be a lifeline, not a permanent replacement of water,” Miller added.

Jeff Wendt
Reporter | Phoenix/Cave Creek

jwendt@iniusa.org

Meet Jeff
Jeff Wendt started at Independent Newsmedia in January 2023, after 25 years working for Gannett and The Arizona Republic. Started as a high school sports scoretaker, worked up to reporting high school sports and then became an associate high school sports editor in 2002. Also worked in the Design Studio as a copy editor.

Community: Jeff serves on the Board of Elders at his local church.

Education: Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication

Random fact: Attended Game 2 of the 2001 World Series.

Hobbies: Playing video games (yes still the kid in me), watching reality TV, playing poker.