Water Planning for Growing Southwestern Communities - Design with the Desert: Conservation and Sustainable Development - page 279

how to incorporate these changing circumstances in their water plans and thereby create
more robust or resilient strategies. What might seem like a workable strategy in some cir-
cumstances, such as transferring water from agricultural to municipal use, may not seem
as appealing in a world where agricultural water use is a needed buffer to absorb reduc-
tions in water availability. One example of an expanded modeling approach is King County,
Washington's use of adaptive management in water planning to address risks from climate
change. * An example of modified water planning to/that reflect uncertainties is Tucson
Water's emphasis on scenario planning as the focal point of its long-range water plan. †
15.6 Planning by and for Whom and What?
Is it realistic to think that water planning for the urban areas of the Southwest is only
about the needs of the growing populations? Water resources support multiple parts of the
economy. Is agricultural activity in a state dispensable? Food availability and security are
public concerns. Agricultural land is a form of open, green space. Should environmental
needs for water be factored into urban water planning? It has been demonstrated that
property values in urban areas vary directly with the proximity to riparian areas. 46 Large
sums of money are being spent on environmental restoration, indicating the public values
environmental amenities. What should be the geographic area of water plans? How should
land-use plans and water plans be connected?
These are obvious questions without obvious answers. Those operating and managing
water systems will often say that their responsibility is to make sure water flows out of
the pipe or tap. It is not their job to determine the nature of land uses, be it agricultural,
commercial, industrial, natural open space, or residential. Communication and cooperation
are keys to developing good plans. The physical landscape of a community will depend
on the availability of water. Therefore, land-use planners must understand the framework
for water planning and management. The water experts must take the time and invest the
resources in fostering an understanding of water planning and management by those in
public policy decision-making positions, the business community, and the community at
large. Good water planning is necessary for good community planning.
While no one would argue with recommendations for more and better communication and
understanding, one would be a Pollyanna to think that disputes can be avoided. Solutions to
disputes or divergent interests will likely emanate from creative problem solving and devel-
opment of voluntary agreements to address competing water needs. Changes to law may
be necessary, but such changes will require consultation and negotiation with the affected
parties. Therefore, we must look to resolving matters through negotiations and voluntary
agreements. The seven-state agreement on Colorado River shortage sharing is an outcome of
lengthy negotiation. Water sharing agreements between agricultural users and urban water
authorities have also been achieved. ‡ The purchase of instream flow rights to support ripar-
ian areas is yet another. These agreements can take a long time to develop and even longer to
implement. They can involve significant monetary resources and always require leadership.
As water availability relative to projected demand is becoming a shared challenge of many
communities, more recognize that they are not in it alone. State water planning exercises
* King County Climate Plan. 44
† Tucson Water, Water Plan: 2000-2050 . 45
‡ http://www.sdcwa.org/sites/default/files/files/publications/watertransfer-fs.pdf (accessed March 29, 2009).