For years Keep Sedona Beautiful has been on the leading edge of disseminating information and bringing this issue before the public in the Verde Valley. Through the partnership of KSB and The League of Women Voters, numerous organizations have been spawned to combine efforts to establish much-needed awareness and legislation for water conservation. Among them have been the Regional Watershed Consortium (North Central Arizona Water Consortium), The Verde River Basin Partnership, The Water Awareness Alliance, and making April Water Awareness Month, sponsoring numerous water events.
In fact, Water Awareness Month began in Sedona in 2004 with the first April Is Water Awareness Month. A coalition of groups created the Sedona Water Awareness Alliance: Keep Sedona Beautiful, Sustainable Arizona, Sedona Women, Gardens for Humanity, the League of Women Voters, Sierra Club, local water companies, the City of Sedona and regional groups. The coalition worked with the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to obtain materials on water conservation, xeriscaping and planning. They developed a month of activities with workshops, films and celebrations that began each year with the KSB Native Plant workshop. From there, they created a matrix of methods for others to use in developing their community water events. Finally, the coalition worked with local businesses to convince hotels and restaurants to reduce their water usage.
This work climaxed with receiving a Governor’s Award from then-Governor Janet Napolitano. The coalition then turned over the design for Water Awareness Month to ADWR, and Arizona’s Water Awareness Month was formalized.
The effects of climate change are becoming more evident. Large-scale agribusiness projects and residential developments are placing ever-increasing demands on our limited groundwater resources. We believe water issues must play a major role in the decision-making process. Water is a finite resource. Decisions on where, when, and how much to develop must take water resources into account.
KSB provides the following information about water use in the Verde Valley and Northern Arizona:
- Threats to Our Groundwater – Excessive, Unregulated Pumping
- Water Water Nowhere and Not a Drop to Drink
- Water Conservation – What You Can Do To Help
- Glossary of the Complex Terms Describing ‘Groundwater’ from the Arizona Department of Water Resources
Water is essential and we all need to do our part to ensure there is enough water today, tomorrow, and for future generations. That’s why the City of Sedona, Yavapai County, Big Park Water Company, and Arizona Water Company have created a water conservation program with the communities in mind. Check out the Ripple Effect water conservation program by visiting www.rippleeffectsedona.com Do your part in conserving water!
H2O: The Molecule That Made Us
PBS has recently shown an amazing documentary series, H2O: The Molecule That Made Us. All episodes are available on PBS.org by CLICKING HERE.
Groundwater reserves all over the world are dwindling. This human-caused crisis, coupled with drought, cause social upheaval leading to wars and mass migrations. If you’re interested in learning more about groundwater management in Arizona and the many ways in which Arizona and other states export water from non-rechargeable aquifers, you need to watch this excellent documentary, particularly Part 2, Civilizations.
You can view a preview of Part 2: Civilizations, by clicking THIS LINK.