That could prove a knotty and controversial issue as Colorado River water declines, given the limited availability of alternative supplies such as groundwater. Nearly half of the CAP's total supply is or will be reserved for tribes.
Tony Davis
About
Tony graduated from Northwestern University and started at the Star in 1997. He has mostly covered environmental stories since 2005, focusing on water supplies, climate change, the Rosemont Mine and the endangered jaguar.For Star subscribers: The Gila River Indian Community controls the single biggest share of Central Arizona Project water held by any user — 311,000 acre feet. That's more than double Tucson's CAP allocation.
Lawmakers from both parties and activists in the volatile rural groundwater debate say they remain hopeful that a compromise can be reached.
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality proposes to approve a groundwater protection permit for the massive Copper World mining comple…
Arizona says Marana has enough water to serve its fast-growing population for 100 years, but critics say it pumps too much groundwater.
The four Upper Basin states' proposal would cut river water use by Arizona and the other two Lower Basin states by up to 20% in most years.
A groundwater quality permit is proposed for Hudbay's six open-pit complex planned in the Santa Rita Mountains.
River basin states including Arizona are getting "too close for comfort" to reaching what two river experts call a "Colorado River Compact tripwire."
Species reintroduction, safety at abandoned mines, fire ecology help and a native seed bank are among projects U.S. Interior Department announces it will pay for.