Charter:  The Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee is a committed coalition of communities and selected stakeholders that are dedicated to developing a management plan for the sustainable use of our regional water supply.

Mission Statement: The Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee is committed to preserving sustainable water resources for future generations while enhancing the economic viability of our County.  We are dedicated to meeting the long-term water resource needs of our customers - the citizens of the Yavapai County region.  We will accomplish our goals by developing and enacting a total water management strategy through a consensus of our coalition members.

Situational Analysis:  Historic uses of water and new demands for water may have created changes to the conditions of the water resources of the region.  Water levels have declined in some local aquifers, pointing to a change in the water resource system.  It is imperative that measures are taken to obtain a better understanding of the county’s water resources and to ensure the good heath of our surface water and groundwater systems.

Critical Planning Assumptions:  The factors and events that are likely to occur with a high degree of probability in the near future:

1. The Prescott AMA Tri-City Communities will continue with plans to construct a pipeline and develop the Big Chino groundwater basin as well as mitigate impacts from pumping.
2. The Verde Valley downstream water right holders and residents plan to oppose this proposed pipeline.
3. Other groups represented by committee members will also move forward with water acquisition & infrastructure projects.
4. Growth (and demand for water) will continue.
5. Hydrologic and other scientific studies will continue.
6. New legislation will change how we do business within AMAs and with AMAs.
7. Additional or new water supplies will be needed for the Yavapai County region.
8. Water Rights, Water Law and the Regulatory Framework of water management will play a very significant role in the development of water resources.
9. The least costly sources of water have already been developed; additional water sources will likely be more expensive.

Key Objectives:

1. Goal No. 1:  Develop regional Yavapai County water management and conservation strategies that ensure sustained use of water resources and that protect the base flows of the County’s rivers and streams.
2. Goal No. 2:  Establish strong communication links among federal, tribal, state, county, local government, individual citizens and all other stakeholders.
3. Devise and promote enabling legislation that will provide a local basis for management of water resources.

Tactics:

1. For Goal No. 1: Develop regional Yavapai County water management and conservation strategies that ensure sustained use of water resources and that protect the base flows of the County’s rivers and streams.
   1. Inventory municipal, private, tribal and downstream ownerships of water resources.
   2. Inventory the location of all known sub-basin aquifers
   3. Inventory existing scientific studies to include total water resources (e.g. surface, ground and effluent).
   4. Through development of scientific information, allow the water resource to drive the water management strategy.
   5. Participate in local, state, federal water policy issues that impact our ability to manage regional water resources.
   6. Outcome:  Yavapai Countywide consensus on water resource use and its management.
   7. Develop a subcommittee structure to address specific issues such as, but not limited to, conservation and education issues.

2. For Goal No. 2:  Establish strong communication links among federal, tribal, state, county, local government, individual citizens and all other stakeholders.
   1. Develop trust among citizens, cities & towns, and individuals via news media(s) and town hall meetings.
   2. Continue timely reporting to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors.
   3. Keep current on legislative and regulatory issues.
   4. Provide opportunities for representation and presentations from regulatory agencies.
   5. Outcome:  Heightened awareness of total water management and support of those goals.
      
3. Support implementation of goals 1 and 2 by utilizing the collective strength of the WAC membership.