According to the Arizona
Department of Water Resources, the Tohono O’odham Nation is projected to have
stagnant water demand growth through 2030. The State of Arizona, specifically
through the central and southern regions, is projected to be the fastest
growing state in population growth due to the influx of baby-boomer retirees.
Meanwhile, the Tohono O’odham Nation holds water rights per capita well in
excessive of other Indian and non-Indian municipalities.
Although the tribe currently has
rights to an incredible oversupply, the financing for infrastructure
development (canals, pumps, storage, etc.) is non-existent. The lack of
infrastructure is reflected in the ADWR’s projections for agricultural and
industrial water demand on the reservation. With poor infrastructure and no
capital to change it, the water will not be put to use, leaving only meager
municipal growth to drive demand. However, Winters Rights allow the reservation
to maintain those water rights even when not used “beneficially”. How could
this be a windfall?
I believe that water intensive
industries, specifically agriculture and power, could be drawn to the
reservation for their abundant and protected supply. With water supply strains
outside of the reservation, municipal demand will be the priority allocation of
water above both agriculture and industrial demand. With water access being
threatened off of the reservation, would the Tohono O’odham Nation be willing
to open its doors to private and independent industry operating on their lands?
Besides the obvious economic benefits of jobs and taxable corporate income,
would the reservation benefit from the infrastructural projects those private
projects would half to invest in? If those private water infrastructure
projects allow for better access away from the CAP region, what’s to lose?
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