EXECUTIVE ORDER 2003-12 ARIZONA DROUGHT TASK FORCE PLAN WHEREAS, precipitation throughout the State of Arizona during the past four years and for six of the last seven years has been significantly below normal; and WHEREAS, the lack of precipitation has significantly reduced stream flows in the State's interior basins and reduced surface and groundwater supplies upon which citizens and the commerce of the State are dependent; and WHEREAS, the lack of precipitation has created drought conditions throughout the state and most critically in the rural areas of the State; and WHEREAS, the drought endangers people, property, crops, livestock and wildlife throughout the State of Arizona; and WHEREAS, droughts are a periodically reoccurring event in Arizona and the arid southwest; and WHEREAS, the adverse impacts of the drought can be mitigated by proper coordination of activities; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Janet Napolitano, Governor of the State of Arizona, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State, do hereby order the creation of a Drought Task Force, and further order as follows: 1. Under the leadership of the Department of Water Resources, the Drought Task Force shall: A. Identify water companies/providers that will have difficulty meeting their potable water demands this year. B. Identify locations in the state where drought-related water level declines are causing, or are likely to cause, significant losses of supply for individual domestic wells.
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Identify areas in state where water availability has declined and there will be insufficient water to sustain agricultural operations including crops and livestock.
D. Identify locations in state where reduced water availability is impacting wildlife and wildlife habitat. E. F. Develop and implement short-term drought plans to respond to and mitigate water shortages identified in items A through E above. Develop and implement long-term drought mitigation plans for the state including thresholds for declaring a state of emergency and/or asking for the declaration of a federal disaster.
G. Develop and implement a statewide water conservation education strategy that emphasizes educational advertising for good water habit development. H. Evaluate opportunities for more efficient use of water to meet agricultural and municipal needs. I. J. Evaluate the availability of water for wildfire suppression and develop a plan for alternative supplies. Assume the lead role in intergovernmental drought response coordination and media information releases, which shall be coordinated through and released by the Governor's Office.
K. Provide guidance and information to the Governor should conditions constitute the declaration of an emergency. 2. The Drought Task Force shall consist of one member selected by the Governor from each of the following agencies or entities: A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. Office of the Governor Arizona Corporation Commission Arizona Department of Agriculture Arizona Department of Commerce Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Arizona Department of Health Services Arizona Department of Real Estate Arizona Department of Water Resources
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I. J. K. L. M. N. O.
Arizona Division of Emergency Management Arizona State Land Department Arizona Department of Homeland Security Arizona Department of Transportation Arizona Game and Fish Department Arizona House of Representatives Arizona State Senate
In addition, representatives from Arizona Counties, Cities, Towns and Indian Tribes and representatives from all water and power utilities in the state will be invited to participate. Federal agencies with drought response and recovery programs may be asked to act as advisors to the Task Force. All meetings shall be open to the public and the public will be encouraged to attend. 3. The Task Force may create work groups to address specific problem areas and shall create the following specific work groups: A. Municipal and Industrial Water Supply - This group shall make assessments and develop mitigation strategies including opportunities to increase water use efficiency for drought related impacts on public water supply systems (including both public and private water companies), exempt wells, and public health conditions. B. Agriculture - This group shall make assessments and develop mitigation strategies including opportunities to increase water use efficiency for drought related impacts on agriculture including crops and livestock. Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat - This group shall make assessments and develop mitigation strategies for drought-related impacts on Arizona's wildlife and wildlife habitat.
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D. Conservation Education - This group shall design an educational advertising plan for use in water conservation education throughout the state, but focused on rural areas. It shall also assess available, no-cost public interest media opportunities to convey plan messages as well as identify potential contributors for additional paid media spots. E. Fire Suppression - This group will make assessments of existing water supplies available and develop a plan for alternative water supply options for suppression of wildfire.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Arizona.
GOVERNOR Done at the Capitol in Phoenix this 20th day of March in the Year Two Thousand Three and of the Independence of the United States of America the Two Hundred and Twenty-Seventh ATTEST:
SECRETARY OF STATE
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