A panel discussed drought on Friday February 22nd. From left Chuck Collum from Central Arizona Project, Ron Fleming from Global Water, moderator Jordan Rose from Rose Law Group, Bill Garfield from Arizona Water Company, and Pinal County Supervisor Steve Miller. / Heather Smather / Pinal Central
In the end, the panel was asked by moderator Jordan Rose to explain the current state of Pinal’s, and Arizona’s, water situation in one word
By Heather Smathers | Casa Grand Dispatch
Steady rain and some sleet made an ironic backdrop for a discussion on drought Friday in Pinal County.
During the monthly meeting of the Pinal Partnership, held at Gold Canyon Golf Resort, attendees heard discussions on all things to do with water and how it affects growth and agriculture in Pinal County. Panelists included Chuck Cullom of the Central Arizona Project, Ron Fleming of Global Water Resources, Bill Garfield of Arizona Water Company and Pinal County Supervisor Steve Miller, R-Casa Grande.
The panel agreed more needs to be done to address Arizona’s water issues, which include not only a lowered water table but the potential loss of water allotment from the Colorado River. But when Miller asked whether it was time to address the “800-pound gorilla in the room,” he was met with skepticism.
“Are we at that finite number of people in Arizona?” he asked.
Fleming, from Global Water, said: “No, I don’t think we’re at that point where I think growth needs to stop.”
