Phoenix To Share Canal Water With Cave Creek

Phoenix is allowing Cave Creek to use its canal water to mitigate water loss. In exchange, Phoenix will be permitted to pull from Cave Creek's underground water storage. The exchange follows reports that the Colorado River in the valley would be negative for local residents. Piping Cave Creek's stored water back to the town was described as complicated and expensive. Water consultant Brad Hill stated the solution may not be permanent because the stored water is a finite supply and climate change is worsening long-term drought. Catherine Sorensen from the Kyle Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University noted that water issues in Rio Verde Foothills were an outlier despite headline coverage. She stated such incidents could negatively impact the local economy. Under the arrangement, Phoenix is permitted to draw from stored water reserves in Cave Creek. He noted that climate change is worsening decades of drought and the long-term forecast indicates conditions will remain dry. Hill added that the area has five to eight years of alternatives remaining before a long-term solution is required.