A Brief Overview of Agricultural Water Use in Arizona Arizona-Mexico Commission Water Committee Meeting March 10, 2008 Chris Udall, Executive Director The Agri-Business Council of Arizona, Inc.

Who we are… ¿Quiénes somos? The Agri-Business Council of Arizona (ABC) is a not for profit trade association whose membership represents the entire agricultural community from ditch-bank to the dinner table in Arizona. The Agri-Business Council of Arizona (ABC) is a not for profit trade association whose membership represents the entire agricultural community from ditch-bank to the dinner table in Arizona. El Consejo de Agronegocios de Arizona (ABC) es una asociación de comercio sin fines de lucro cuya membresía representa a la comunidad agrícola completa, desde las zanjas hasta la mesa del comedor en Arizona. El Consejo de Agronegocios de Arizona (ABC) es una asociación de comercio sin fines de lucro cuya membresía representa a la comunidad agrícola completa, desde las zanjas hasta la mesa del comedor en Arizona.

ABC was established in 1978 to respond to proposed water legislation and to serve as the State’s Reclamation representative to the National Water Resources Association. ABC was established in 1978 to respond to proposed water legislation and to serve as the State’s Reclamation representative to the National Water Resources Association. ABC fue establecida en 1978 para responder a la legislación sobre el agua propuesta, y para servir como representante del Estado ante la Asociación Nacional de Recursos Acuícolas. ABC fue establecida en 1978 para responder a la legislación sobre el agua propuesta, y para servir como representante del Estado ante la Asociación Nacional de Recursos Acuícolas. Who we are… ¿Quiénes somos?

Membership is comprised of growers, ranchers, suppliers of equipment, seed, chemicals and services, agricultural processors, financiers of agribusiness enterprises, commodity groups, trade associations, electrical districts and irrigation districts, and universities. Membership is comprised of growers, ranchers, suppliers of equipment, seed, chemicals and services, agricultural processors, financiers of agribusiness enterprises, commodity groups, trade associations, electrical districts and irrigation districts, and universities. La membresía está compuesta por productores, rancheros, proveedores de equipo y semillas, químicos y servicios, personas que financían las empresas de agronegocios, grupos de interés, asociaciones de comercio, distritos de energía eléctrica, distritos de riego y universidades. La membresía está compuesta por productores, rancheros, proveedores de equipo y semillas, químicos y servicios, personas que financían las empresas de agronegocios, grupos de interés, asociaciones de comercio, distritos de energía eléctrica, distritos de riego y universidades. Who we are… ¿Quiénes somos?

What we do… ¿Qué hacemos? ABC’s purpose is to ensure the vitality and sustainable profitability of the agriculture industry and to further ensure that it remains a strong contributor to the overall economic health of Arizona. ABC’s purpose is to ensure the vitality and sustainable profitability of the agriculture industry and to further ensure that it remains a strong contributor to the overall economic health of Arizona. El propósito de ABC es asegurar la viabilidad y rentabilidad sostenible de la industria agrícola y asegurar que permanezca como un contribuyente de peso a la salud económica en general de Arizona. El propósito de ABC es asegurar la viabilidad y rentabilidad sostenible de la industria agrícola y asegurar que permanezca como un contribuyente de peso a la salud económica en general de Arizona.

Irrigation Districts in Arizona-Colorado Distritos de Riego en Arizona-Colorado

Yuma Area Water Diversions YearDiversions (Acre Ft) 19701,263, ,208, ,150, ,150, ,207,201 Yuma County Water Users’ Association

Total Acres Under Production in the Yuma Valley with Total of 53,450 Irrigable Acres Year Land CroppedCrop AcresMultiple Crops ,93652,8385, ,01061,36915, ,51482,18136, ,30283,37939,077 Yuma County Water Users’ Association

Irrigation Districts in Arizona-Gila Distritos de Riego en Arizona-Gila

Overview of Arizona Ag National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) 2002 Census Data for the state of Arizona The overall ranking for all agricultural products in Arizona is as follows: RankProduct nameTotal Sales (per $1,000)% of sales 1Vegetables, melons, 749, potatoes, sweet potatoes 2Cattle and calves403, Milk and dairy products352, Nursery, greenhouse, 284, floriculture, and sod 5Other crops and hay186, Cotton and cottonseed150, Fruits, tree nuts, berriesWithheldWithheld

Agricultural Crops Grown in Arizona 2006 State Overview Field and Misc. Crops: 674,000 acres, value of production = $550,977,000. Vegetables: 144,000 acres, value = $728,770,000. Crop nameProduction (1,000cwt.)Number of Acres Broccoli1,78511,900 Cabbage4203,100 Head lettuce15,70847,600 Cauliflower1,0814,700 Honeydew1,3505,000 Cantaloupes6,12922,700 Leaf lettuce2,3498,100 Romaine lettuce6,36519,000 Spring season potatoes1,1703,900 Spring season onions4901,000 Spinach 9006,000 Watermelon3,2767,800

Consumption Sources: ADWR, UofA, USGS

Breakdown of Water Supplies for Agriculture

Water Sources for Agriculture Colorado River Water Colorado River Water –CAP –On-River Surface Water other than Colorado River Water Surface Water other than Colorado River Water Groundwater Groundwater Effluent or Reclaimed Water Effluent or Reclaimed Waterhttp://

Agricultural CAP Water Use

Colorado River Water Uses Agricultural CAP use Agricultural CAP use –Of the 1.6 million acre feet coming off of the Colorado River, approximately 700,000 acre feet was used for ag in 2006 (roughly 44%) On-river use On-river use –Most of the 1.2 million acre feet of on- river use is for agriculture

Issues facing Agriculture Accessing long-term renewable water supplies in Central Arizona Accessing long-term renewable water supplies in Central Arizona Overdraft of aquifers Overdraft of aquifers Urbanization Urbanization Transfers of agricultural water supplies to municipalities Transfers of agricultural water supplies to municipalities Funding infrastructure operations and maintenance Funding infrastructure operations and maintenance Impacts of long term drought Impacts of long term drought

Contact Information Chris Udall 1819 E. Southern Ave. Mesa, Arizona Phone: Fax: Thank You! Muchas Gracias!