The second track of the Arizona Water Initiative involved the creation of a Governor’s Water Augmentation Council that investigated long-term water augmentation strategies, additional water conservation opportunities, funding and infrastructure needs to help secure water supplies for Arizona’s future. The role of the "GWAC" was expanded on January 31, 2019, by a new executive order by Governor Ducey. The new Council, which included many of the original panel's members, was charged further with investigating innovative methods of expanding the state's water resources, as well as targeting conservation efforts.
In the fall of 2016, four committees were created by Council Chairman, Tom Buschatzke, that would specialize in fields that either directly or indirectly affect water augmentation opportunities in Arizona. These fields included desalination, finance, recycled water, and long-term water augmentation. Each of the committees were chaired by Council members who volunteered for the position, and the committee members comprised of Council members, representatives of Council members, or individuals selected by the Committee Chair. The committees typically held meetings every two months, which were open to the public, and the presentations and summaries for each meeting can be found below.
Governor's Water Augmentation Council
A role of the Council was to provide direction to the Director of ADWR, upon the Director’s request, on any issues that the Director determined may impact water management. The GWAC advocated for continued implementation of water conservation measures in all water use sectors throughout the state and made additional recommendations regarding actions to be taken by ADWR with respect to conservation. Among other things, the GWAC sought to identify augmentation opportunities as a means to resolve water resource conflicts or improve water supply availability to ensure legal certainty for water users and investors.
PAST COMMITTEE MEETINGS
GWAC Meeting
Friday, January 26, 2018 - 10:00am
Arizona Department of Water Resources
*CANCELLED* Governor's Water Augmentation Council
Friday, December 8, 2017 - 10:00am
Arizona Department of Water Resources
*CANCELLED* Governor's Water Augmentation Council Meeting
Monday, October 2, 2017 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Governor's Water Augmentation Council Meeting
Friday, April 7, 2017 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources, Third Floor Conference Room #3175, Phoenix, Arizona
Governor's Water Augmentation Council Meeting
Friday, February 10, 2017 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
- Meeting Summary
- WET Presentation
- Recycled Water Committee Report
- Long Term Augmentation Committee Report
- Desalination Committee Report
Governor's Water Augmentation Council Meeting
Tuesday, December 13, 2016 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Governor's Water Augmentation Council Meeting
Friday, October 28, 2016 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Governor's Water Augmentation Council Meeting
Friday, August 5, 2016 - 10:00am to 12:30pm
Governor’s Executive Tower
Governor's Water Augmentation Council Meeting
Friday, June 10, 2016 - 10:00am to 11:00am
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Governor's Water Augmentation Council Meeting
Friday, May 13, 2016 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Governor's Water Augmentation Council Meeting
Friday, February 19, 2016 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Desalination Committee
The Desalination Committee continued to evaluate areas for feasibility of a desalination project and collaborated with local and regional stakeholders within the identified project area. It discussed funding opportunities with the Finance Committee and secured land and water contracts with the approval of Arizona Department of Water Resources.
PAST COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Desalination Committee Meeting
Monday, April 23, 2018 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Desalination Committee Meeting
Monday, January 29, 2018 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Desalination Committee Meeting
Monday, November 6, 2017 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Desalination Committee Meeting
Monday, September 11, 2017 - 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Desalination Committee Meeting
Monday, July 10, 2017 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Middle Verde Conference Room
Desalination Committee Meeting
Monday, May 15, 2017 - 9:00am to 11:00am
Arizona Department of Water Resources
- Goodyear Brine Disposal Presentation
- Enviro Water Minerals
- Montgomery & Associates Brackish Water Supply
- Central Arizona Salinity Study (2010)
- Meeting Summary
Desalination Committee Meeting
Wednesday, March 8, 2017 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
- Meeting Summary
- Areas of Brackish Water Opportunity
- Montgomery and Associates, Inc., Study (2008)
- Project Timeline
Desalination Meeting
Thursday, January 19, 2017 - 10:00am to 3:00pm
Bureau of Reclamation Office, Yuma
Desalination Meeting
Wednesday, November 9, 2016 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Desalination Meeting
Tuesday, September 20, 2016 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee was tasked with creating a timeline for establishing funding mechanisms for future water augmentation projects.
PAST COMMITTEE MEETINGS
CANCELLED: Finance Committee Meeting
Thursday, June 15, 2017 - 1:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Finance Committee Meeting
Monday, May 15, 2017 - 11:00am to 1:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
- EPCOR Public-Private Partnerships
- WIFA and WIFIA
- ADWR Data Project
- Enviro Water Minerals
- Meeting Summary
Finance Committee Meeting
Friday, April 14, 2017 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Finance Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 16, 2017 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Finance Committee Meeting
Thursday, September 22, 2016 - 10:00am to 11:15am
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Long Term Water Committee
The Long-Term Water Augmentation Committee considered projected planning areas with the greatest imbalances to the least utilizing heat maps. This was followed by a budget proposal and overseeing the Request-for-Proposal process until its completion. Once a draft product was received, the committee was to hold local area meetings to review the proposed portfolio before final completion.
PAST COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Long-Term Water Augmentation Committee Meeting- Committee work session: Water Augmentation Study
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
ADWR, Middle Verde Conference Room, 4th Floor
Long Term Water Augmentation Committee Meeting Agenda
Long-Term Water Augmentation Committee Meeting
Wednesday, December 5, 2018 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
ADWR, Verde Conference Room, 4th Floor
Long-Term Water Augmentation Committee Meeting
Thursday, October 18, 2018 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
ADWR, Verde Conference Room, 4th Floor
- Carollo Engineers Presentation
- Revised Project Schedule
- Planning Areas Map
- Augmentation Options Category 1 Evaluation Table
- Questions for Committee’s Decision
- TM01 Comment Response Log
- Water Augmentation Projects Brainstorm List
- Committee Meeting Video
- Committee Meeting Summary
Long Term Water Augmentation Committee Meeting
Thursday, June 14, 2018 - 1:00pm
ADWR, Verde Conference Room, 4th Floor
Long-Term Water Augmentation Committee Meeting
Tuesday, September 19, 2017 - 1:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Long-Term Water Augmentation Committee Meeting
Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - 10:00am
Arizona Department of Water Resources
- Funding Sources for Project
- Scope of Work and Table
- Demand and Supply Projections for 2060
- Meeting Summary
Long-Term Water Augmentation Committee Meeting
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
- ADWR Presentation
- The Nature Conservancy Presentation
- Pacific Institute Report (2016)
- Meeting Summary
Long Term Augmentation Committee Meeting
Friday, March 3, 2017 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
- Meeting Summary
- Developing a Sustainable Water Supply (SRP)
- Environmental Water Demand (TNC)
- Agricultural Water Use
- Projecting Supply and Demand (CAP)
- Water Demand and Supply Projections (ADWR)
Long Term Water Augmentation Meeting
Friday, January 27, 2017 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Recycle Water Committee
The Recycled Water Committee recommended that the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality end the prohibition on direct potable reuse. It also recommended reevaluating the 50% accrual of credits for storage of effluent in managed recharge facilities.
PAST COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Friday, January 26, 2018 - 6:00am to 8:00am
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Recycled Water Committee Meeting
Thursday, July 27, 2017 - 10:00am
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Recycled Water Committee Meeting
Monday, May 22, 2017 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
- AMWUA Final Analysis on Reclaimed Water
- AMWUA Terminology Memorandum
- Arizona Rule Changes
- Meeting Summary
Recycled Water Committee Meeting
Wednesday, March 29, 2017 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Recycled Water Committee
Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Recycled Water Meeting
Monday, December 5, 2016 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Annual Reports