July 12, 2003 Meeting Announcement
Learn about the City of Prescott's Option to Purchase
Lands North of Paulden.
Verde River Citizens Alliance President Anita
Rochelle announces the
cancellation of the July 19 VRCA meeting. Instead, VRCA will join the
Citizens' Water Advocacy Group July 12 for their meeting in Prescott.
In April, the Prescott City Council took a $250,000 option on the CV
Ranch 17 miles northwest of Paulden, with an eye toward acquiring 12,000 to
17,000 acre-feet of water per year for the city. Brad Huza, Director of
Environmental Services for the city of Prescott, is overseeing the city’s
year-long exploration of the project. Huza will present a detailed overview
of the estimated $55 million project when he speaks to the Citizens’ Water
Advocacy Group (CWAG) at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 12 at the Granite Peak
Unitarian Church, 882 Sunset Avenue, in Prescott. VRCA members are
encouraged to attend.
Two of the project benefits Huza will discuss are securing a long-term
supply of water for Prescott’s continued growth and added water supplies to
offset the groundwater overdraft. In addition, several thousands of acres of
Big Chino grasslands could be preserved, as well as critical pronghorn
antelope habitat.
Along with the benefits, Huza will lay out several thorny issues to be
considered, including local and regional concerns about groundwater/surface
water interaction, the financial impact on current and future water users,
and the impact on endangered species in the area.
The mission of the Citizens’ Water Advocacy Group is to advocate
sustainable long-term water use in the combined Upper Verde River Watershed
and Prescott Active Management Area by educating the public and encouraging
responsible governmental decision-making.
There are two ways to get to the meeting location, Granite Peak
Unitarian Church, 882 Sunset Avenue, in Prescott from the Verde Valley:
1. 89A through Jerome. Take 89A to its end, which is the junction with
route 89. Cross over 89 on to Pioneer Parkway and go until the next major
intersection (a mile plus or minus) which is Willow Creek Road. Turn left on
Willow Creek and proceed for approximately 7 miles into Prescott. Pass the
Yavapai Regional Medical Center on the left (large brick building) and go
through the R-Y-G light at the intersection just beyond (Iron Springs Rd to
the right and Whipple Street to the left). Immediately beyond the
intersection is another Whipple Street (True Value Hardware is on the
corner). Turn right there and go 2 blocks to the church on the left.
2. Through Prescott Valley on 69. Take 69 to its end, where it splits left
to Gurley and right to Sheldon. Take Sheldon all the way to a tee at a
light. Turn right, which is Montezuma, and proceed around a curve, where
the name changes to Whipple Street, and go through several lights to a R-Y-G
intersection (Yavapai Regional Medical Center is on the right corner). Turn
left on to Miller Valley Road (it's called Willow Creek Road to the right)
and then an immediate right just before the True Value store. The church is
2 blocks on the left.
The Verde River Citizens Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to
protecting the Verde River and its watershed. For more information, view
the VRCA Web site at
http://www.verderivervrca.org/ , or call 649-2422.
