East Valley official: More conservation needed; less water coming from the Colorado

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

Water Resources Manager Simone Kjolsrud said surface water is like the city of Chandler’s checking account, while groundwater is its savings account.

“And we try to only touch the savings account when it’s absolutely necessary,” Kjolsrud said during a May 21 presentation to the Chandler City Council.

That savings account might have to be tapped into more often, she said, as Colorado and other river water supplies become more and more scarce. And it could cost more to get what it can.

Knowing each Arizona city is fighting for a share of a diminishing pie, she explained, more adjustments might be needed.

She said in addition to ongoing disputes at the national level that will affect how much Colorado River water even makes it into Arizona’s, Nevada's, California’s and Mexico’s lower basin, consecutive dry winters have continued to reduce the amount of water delivered annually by the Salt River Project to its nine Valley cities that include Chandler.

The winter of 2024-25 was the driest on record for the state, Kjolsrud said, with 2025-26 being the 13th-driest on record.

Kjolsrud, who presents to Council periodically to address cuts and what can be done differently, reminded everyone that even though SRP makes an annual summer announcement about the allocations each city will receive in the calendar year ahead, those allocations can be reduced by the SRP board at any time.

“SRP can call us tomorrow and say ‘We’re going to reduce yours further,’” she said. “So everyone is turning to groundwater and aquifer water. Drawn-down aquifers is something we’re going to need to manage regionally.”

Kjolsrud said the reservoirs along the Verde and Salt rivers are collectively only at 55% at the most recent report, while those reservoirs were beyond capacity after a very wet 2023.

Kjolsrud explained the city is now operating in a “deficit supply” when it comes to reclaimed water — something the city can address.

“We currently have a lot of customers who are using more than their contracted limit (of reclaimed water),” she said. “That’s a challenge. It means we have to put staff time on it. It’s very resource-intensive to work with them and try to get them back under their contract limit.”

Kjolsrud went over several discouraging elements of falling Colorado River water levels, forecasts and recent Bureau of Reclamation actions taken as remedies.

She also talked briefly about the stalled seven-state Colorado River water sharing negotiations that will likely result in less water going to Arizona, with the base question being simply how much the state will lose — even if the federal government accepts the lower basin states’ proposal submitted May 1.

Kjolsrud said the final impact statement and record of decision on that river’s allocation plan framework is expected to be announced by the end of June.

She pointed out that Chandler has a measurable demand for Colorado River water that is rising, while the supply would decrease, under the lower-basin proposal.

Kjolsrud pointed out that diversity of water supplies and contracts is still a relative strength for Chandler, as its exchange compact with the Gila River Indian Community, its conservation plans and its three reclamation treatment facilities are examples of how the city isn’t simply dependent on one stream or canal with few variables.

She pointed out what’s on the horizon for the city, including technical upgrades to improve efficiency and conservation, prioritizing aquifer recharging, evaluating the tiered rate structure to create incentives for conservation, and the city participating in the feasibility study to modify Bartlett Dam.

Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.