Beyond the Colorado River: Is An International Water Augmentation Consortium in Arizona’s Future?

In this paper, the Authors review the historic, current, and future trends in Arizona’s population growth and water use, and assess whether the state’s current water supplies are adequate to serve its citizens in the future. The analysis indicates that in the majority of the state’s most populous areas—Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Maricopa, Mohave, Pima, Pinal, and Yavapai counties—the current available renewable water supplies are not sufficient to sustain the projected population and preserve the distinctive natural environment in the future. Because additional municipal water supplies will be needed in the future, the Authors evaluate several options for augmenting the state’s water supplies and recommend an approach to initiate planning the development of such supplemental supplies. See [appendix](/pdf/49-2/49arizlrev257x.pdf).