[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 103 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8663-S8664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       MODIFIED VERSION OF S. 849

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today I am introducing a modified version 
of S. 849, the Northern Arizona National Forest Land Exchange Act, 
which I cosponsored last year with Senator Kyl. Since introducing that 
bill, I have met with hundreds of Arizonans and learned first-hand of 
the significant water issues raised by this proposed exchange of about 
50,000 acres of private and Federal land in Northern Arizona. I am 
introducing this modified version of the legislation with the sincere 
hope of achieving a compromise agreement that can be enacted prior to 
adjournment.
  Let me be clear. I am not offering amendments to this bill to slow 
its progress, but rather I want to take this opportunity to address one 
of the most crucial challenges facing Arizona: sound management of its 
precious water resources. The persistent drought that is draining our 
reservoirs makes all of us aware of the limits of our water supplies. I 
strongly believe that the State of Arizona is at a crucial point where 
decisions regarding growth and water use must be made with the 
assurance of long-term availability of water supplies without draining 
our ground and surface waters dry. I am afraid we are currently on a 
collision course with the reality of our finite and dwindling water 
supplies and the future economic and environmental welfare of the 
State.
  In the context of this proposed exchange, it would be irresponsible 
of the Federal Government to transfer public lands into private hands 
in an area where water problems currently exist without an 
understanding of the potential water supply impacts. I have spent 
considerable time and effort in trying to develop a reasoned, 
compromise proposal that balances the various Arizona interests and 
achieves a fair and equitable exchange in the public interest. 
Therefore, it is my hope that the release of this amended bill with a 
new title addressing the associated water issues will be carefully 
considered by all interested parties.
  My objective is to encourage the formation of a partnership between 
Federal, State, and local stakeholders in order to facilitate sound, 
science-based water resource planning and management in the Verde River 
Basin. In my view, the development of such a collaborative decision-
making body, modeled on the Upper San Pedro Partnership, would be a 
vital step in assuring the wise use of the finite water resources 
within the Verde River Basin.
  An earlier draft proposal of the partnership title to this bill was 
widely circulated in Northern Arizona and generated productive 
discussion and comment. This valuable input is reflected in the measure 
I am offering today. It encourages the creation of a multi-stakeholder 
partnership and clarifies the Federal role in providing scientific, 
technical, and financial assistance to State and local water resource 
planning and management efforts. With this important support, I expect 
that State and local interests that share ground and surface water 
resources will come together to advance protection and wise use of 
finite water supplies.
  I became fully aware of the crucial need for this Federal assistance 
through public meetings I held last December in Flagstaff and Camp 
Verde. More than 600 people gathered in Camp Verde to express their 
strongly held views of the proposed land exchange. The primary concern 
voiced was whether or not adequate water supplies are available in the 
area to provide for future development given that residents are already 
experiencing water supply problems. The U.S. Geological Survey 
presented information about its ongoing studies and what is not known 
about the hydrologic systems or water use impacts within the Verde 
Basin. The fact is that we simply do not have sufficient information to 
determine the quantity of water supply available over the long-term 
without adverse effects.

  I believe that it would be irresponsible of the Federal Government to 
transfer lands into private hands in an area where water problems 
already exist without an understanding of the potential impacts. That 
is why I am interested in expediting essential water studies in the 
Verde Basin to provide a scientific basis for sound decisionmaking by 
the partnership. In the short-term, I envision that the first task of 
the partnership would be to make a recommendation, based on a water 
budget analysis for the Verde Valley, regarding available water supply 
for future use on the Federal parcel in Camp Verde. Long-term water 
resource planning and management efforts within the region could also 
be developed through the partnership and informed by the ongoing water 
studies and analyses.
  I would like to briefly explain some of the provisions in this 
modified bill.
  First, under Title I of the bill, it would allow the cities of 
Flagstaff, Williams, and Camp Verde, as well as several local camps, 
the option to purchase lands directly from the Forest Service if they 
are unable to reach an agreement to purchase such lands from the 
Yavapai Ranch. These communities and camps are very interested in 
exploring the economic opportunities that would be afforded through the 
acquisition of certain lands currently held by the Federal Government. 
The bill also would eliminate the 820-acre Federal parcel in Clarkdale 
from exchange, at the request of that community.
  Next, the bill establishes a new Title II, which is designed to 
establish a framework to begin addressing the very serious water 
resource and management issues in Northern Arizona. The purpose of this 
title is to authorize assistance for a collaborative and science-based 
water resource planning and management partnership for the Verde River 
Basin, consisting of members that represent Federal, State, and local 
agencies, along with economic, environmental, and community water 
interests. The bill language makes it clear that this is not a Federal 
intrusion into State and local jurisdiction and responsibility for 
water management and control.
  Under Title II, Federal assistance would be authorized upon the 
formation of a Verde River Basin Partnership. The measure would 
authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to assist the Arizona Department 
of Water Resources and the Yavapai Water Advisory Council by 
participating in the formation of the partnership. While the 
partnership would not be a Federal entity, it would be eligible for 
Federal assistance through the Secretary of Agriculture and the 
Secretary of the Interior.
  The amended bill directs the partnership to develop a plan for 
conducting water resource studies within the Verde River Basin. The 
plan would include; a list of specific studies and analyses that are 
needed to support the planning and management objectives of the 
partnership, identify any ongoing or completed water resource or 
riparian studies that are relevant to water resource planning and 
management for the Verde River Basin, provide study timeliness and cost 
estimates, and designate as a study priority the compilation of a water 
budget analysis for the Verde Valley.

  To assist the partnership, the bill directs the U.S. Geological 
Survey, in cooperation with ADWR, to prepare and submit a report to the 
Partnership that provides a water budget analysis of the portion of the 
Verde River Basin within the Verde Valley. The partnership would then 
use the information, along with any other relevant information, and 
submit a preliminary report with its findings and recommendations 
regarding long-term available water supply within the Verde Valley to 
the Secretary, the Governor of Arizona, and representatives of the 
Verde Valley communities. Following this preliminary report, the 
partnership is expected to continue its work and submit a comprehensive 
report to the Secretary and the Governor of Arizona within 4 years. The 
comprehensive report would include the results of any water resource 
assessments conducted

[[Page S8664]]

under this in the Verde River Basin. It also would identify: any areas 
in the Verde River Basin that are determined to have groundwater 
deficits or other current or potential water supply problems; long-term 
water supply management options for communities and water resources 
within the basin; and water resource analyses and monitoring needed to 
support the implementation of management options.
  Finally, the bill directs the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary 
of Agriculture to enter into a memorandum of understanding authorizing 
the U.S. Geological Survey to access Forest Service land, including 
stream gauges, weather stations, wells, or other points of data 
collection on the Forest Service land, to carry out necessary water 
studies.
  I want to do my part in moving the proposed land exchange forward, 
and it must be done in a manner that is fair to the current residents 
of Arizona and the Federal taxpayers. In order to do so, it simply must 
address the affected area's water supply. I remain hopeful that all the 
interested parties who strongly support the proposed exchange will 
carefully consider the proposal that I am introducing today.

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