Nevada reclaims water in Arizona

Monday, March 10, 2003 | 11:16 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

PHOENIX -- California and Nevada officials are trying to reclaim billions of gallons of water stashed in Arizona's aquifers to replace water lost when the Interior Department limited their access to the Colorado River.

In recent weeks, both the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Southern Nevada Water Authority have asked to withdraw water they previously deposited in Arizona's interstate water bank.

But Arizona may not be able to deliver to both states. Arizona and Nevada officials said it is likely that Nevada will get what it needs from its neighbor.

California, which is struggling to resolve a fractious dispute over water rights to the Colorado River among its own water agencies, may not get what it asks for, however, officials warn.

To cover what both states seek, Arizona would have to ask farmers in Pinal County to switch from water delivered by the Central Arizona Project canal to water drawn from wells.

That process can take months, depending on the condition of the wells, and may not produce enough water this year to satisfy the withdrawal demands.

Both Nevada and California are trying to draw on water deposited in a pilot banking program about seven years ago.

Nevada wants 10,000 acre-feet, about 3.3 billion gallons, from the 50,000 acre-feet it banked. California wants all the water it banked, about 26 billion gallons.

The way the bank works, the other two states would take the amount of water they sought directly from the Colorado River. Arizona would then reduce what it takes from the river by the same amount and instead use groundwater.

Vince Alberta, spokesmen for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, said every indication that his agency has received is that the Arizona reserves are available if Las Vegas needs more water.

"This is a request we may not even need," Alberta said.

If California's water agencies are able to untangle a dispute over water rights, the federal government may release what is called the "interim surplus" -- estimated to be 37,000 acre-feet for Nevada alone -- this year.

If that happens, and water agencies in all three states hope it does, neither California nor Nevada will have to go to banked water.

"If the interim surplus comes together, we wouldn't anticipate having to use our groundwater reserves at all," Alberta said. "But all indications we have thus far are that Arizona would be able to accommodate our request."

The Las Vegas agency has other banked water reserves locally, he said.

He noted that the amount that Southern Nevada would need from Arizona is a fraction of the 150,000 acre-feet that California is demanding. The much smaller amount would be easier to accommodate through in-state transfers in Arizona.

At issue, said Larry Dozier, deputy general manager of the Central Arizona Project, isn't whether the states are entitled to the water, but whether Arizona can deliver it all at once on such short notice.

"We told Nevada it's highly likely we could accomplish the water they asked for," Dozier said. "We told California it's highly unlikely we could accomplish the full amount they want, but maybe some of it."

Both California and Nevada already own the banked water, which was originally part of their river allocation, and have paid Arizona to store it, a payment that would cover the withdrawal as well.

Since the 1992-93 pilot project, Nevada has negotiated an interstate banking agreement with Arizona's Water Banking Authority, while California has not. Bank General Manager Tim Henley said that means California will need such a pact before Arizona can release any water.

Any agreement would have to protect Arizona, Henley said.

Sun reporter

Launce Rake and the Associated Press contributed to this story.