State Representative Tim Dunn says Arizona can continue to grow amid drought conditions

He says plans made in 1991 allow the state to reverse course on a decision to slow development in Phoenix

YUMA, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) - Arizona's population continues to grow, but its water supply has been dwindling over the course of a two-decade drought.

Local lawmaker Tim Dunn said the state can have it both ways if we take advantage of all the resources we have available.

“We want to ship 90% of the country’s vegetables from Yuma, Arizona," Dunn said. "We don’t want to ship our water somewhere else.”

Dunn said a recent state plan to curb new development in Phoenix is misguided.

Claiming the decision was made going off of historical water usage, not current data.

“The model doesn’t show increases in efficiencies, and new water coming in,” Dunn said.

Dunn added that the state government set aside groundwater basins in 1991 to use as a “water savings account”.

But the government hasn’t yet allowed for withdraws, as it has to approve all non-Colorado River water transfers.

This a concern for Yuma, as the city and county have sued the Bureau of Reclamation over river water transfers to Queen Creek.

“That takes the pressure off the river, we’ll have a place for Queen Creek, and other cities to go without coming to Yuma to get our water,” Dunn said.

Dunn, ultimately adding growth in Phoenix is good for Yuma, and that growth elsewhere in the state doesn’t have to hurt us.

“The growth of Phoenix, it grows all of rural Arizona, and we have a plan without taking Yuma’s water, we can use the water in those transfer basins,” Dunn said.

Dunn also spearheaded the Water Irrigation Efficiency Program, making grants available from the state for farmers to upgrade their irrigation systems.

You can apply for grants on the University of Arizona website at this link.