KINGMAN– It’s all about the Big W –Water and the goal of protecting and preserving this invaluable Mohave County resource. It will be the focal point of a major multi-media presentation this Monday, October 19 at 1:30pm in the County Administration Building auditorium at 700 W Beale St. in Kingman.
Sponsored by Mohave County, the City of Kingman, and, lead by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to complete a detailed three year study outlined before the Board of Supervisors and the public to determine the aquifer’s health and identify and implement future mitigation measures..
In 2017 Mohave County and the City of Kingman jointly initiated a contract with the USGS to develop a Groundwater Model for this basin because it is at risk of depletion below the 1200-foot level that Arizona law says is “physically available” groundwater. The Objective of the Groundwater Model is to develop the best available hydrologic tool to quantitatively assess the groundwater conditions for most purposes and for all water users.
The findings of a December 2019 Arizona Department of Water Resources Report “indicate there is insufficient groundwater to provide a reasonably safe supply for sustained irrigation of cultivated lands in the basin at the current and predicted rates of withdrawal.” The report findings also show groundwater depletion is due to large scale irrigation with the water level dropping below ground surface in less than 100 years. Monday’s presentation will give an updated summary of the current status and a detailed look at the future of water resources in the county.
The goals resulting from the study include legislative action, the continued monitoring and calibration of a water model that will provide guidance for future mitigation measures, and the continuation of the partnership among Mohave County, the City of Kingman, and private landowners. County BOS Chairman Jean Bishop says the board is “critically concerned about resolving our water crisis in the Hualapai Valley Groundwater Basin.”
The public is invited to attend this important presentation or watch the event on Mohave County’s YouYube channel.
