In this article, Terry Braun, SRK North America's President, discusses statewide water conservation measures taking place in the state of Arizona to combat the ongoing challenges faced with the dwindling Colorado River Basin.
On May 6, 2022, the Central Arizona Project and the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) held a public briefing on Colorado River Shortage Preparedness. The briefing started with three observations. First, the Colorado River Basin drought has lasted more than 22 years. Second, dry soil, higher temperatures, and low precipitation represent the driest basin conditions in more than 1,200 years. Third, the Colorado River was 36% of Arizona’s water supply in 2020. The briefing ended with the certainty of increased reductions to Arizona’s Colorado River allocation in 2023—beyond the 30% reduction instituted in January 2022. Two months later, the Governor of Arizona announced a US$1.2 billion, three-year investment in improving water infrastructure.
In 2021, copper mining (e.g., metal mining) in Arizona accounted for 74% of the domestic US copper production (USGS 2021). How do the major copper producers in Arizona navigate the sustained drought conditions, climate change forecasts, and complex legal frameworks of today? The solutions lie in an established strategy of long-term conservation planning and a sustained commitment to water stewardship.
Read the full 2023 Arizona & Nevada Mining Report from Global Business Reports
