By Gary Coon
Star Valley Town Councilor
When an issue as significant as our water problem surfaces there is a tendency to innocently or deliberately distort facts. Before any practical decisions can be made, facts must be separated from fiction.
There are several misconceptions that should be clarified before any decisions are made between Payson and Star Valley resolving the so called “water wars.” Here are some of the more prominent misunderstandings:
Myth: “If Star Valley purchases the wells offered by Payson, it will solve their problem of being a water purveyor and acquiring rights to Blue Ridge water.”
Fact: The truth is that purchasing these wells would have no affect on Star Valley becoming a water purveyor. The two wells located between Mayfield Canyon Road and Sky Run RV Resort are landlocked. Through a Court order, no pipeline can be constructed to allow access to those wells across private land to Arizona Highway 260. That is the reason Payson never activated those wells into their water system and, of course, the reason why they would be delighted to sell those wells for $100,000. For the same reason, Star Valley could not access those wells. Star Valley already owns a well that could provide water to satisfy qualifications as a water purveyor.
Myth: “Star Valley's worst fear that Payson might someday pump the Tower Well at full capacity was put to rest when Payson agreed to limit pumping to 830 acre/feet/year.”
Fact: The Tower Well has a rated “maximum” pumping capacity of 530 gallons per minute which happens to be equivalent to the 830 ac/ft/yr they are willing to “limit” pumping. To reach the so called “limited pumping” of 830 ac/ft,the Tower Well would have to pump 24 hours/day for 365 days/year with no down time. Even though this would be impossible, Payson could conceivably pump the Tower Well without ever shutting it off and still remain within their “limited pumping”range. Star Valley's “worst fear” would still exist. The only real difference is once Star Valley signs such an agreement, they are telling the world it's ok for Payson to pump the Tower Well at full capacity regardless of the consequences.
Myth: Pumping the Tower Well will not impact shallow wells in Star Valley because it is pumping water from a different, deeper source.
Fact: This is strictly political jargon proven to be untrue by reputable hydrology studies. The Bureau of Reclamation (MRWRMS) has found similar water chemistry in shallow and deep water in Star Valley indicating a “blend” of local recharge with deeper regional water from the Rim. The Tower Well was constructed with a perforated casing to allow well production from different ground levels including shallow water down to water pumped from deeper in the aquifer. Payson Hydrologist Mike Ploughe said it best when he was quoted in the April 7, 2006 edition of the Roundup: “Shallower parts of the aquifer intermix with deeper systems”. Or his answer to former Payson Councilor Dick Reese's question of whether water at two levels of the (Star Valley) aquifer were the same. Plough's answer was, ”Yeah, it's really the same water” (Roundup May 3,2005). It is important to note that of the 2,681 ac./ft./yr. that Payson claims as
safe yield,1,760 ac./ft./yr. comes from the Star Valley watershed.
Myth: “Payson will no longer need the Tower Well except for backup after Blue Ridge becomes available because 3,000 ac.ft./yr. will provide enough water for the anticipated 38,000 buildout.”
Fact: Based on Payson's own projections, they will not have near enough water to supply a population of 38,000 without the Tower Well. Under the best possible scenario with no drought, no downtime for Blue Ridge maintenance, and water consumption remaining at 100 gal/day/resident, several hundred acre feet of water would still be needed from the Tower Well annually. 38,000 only takes into account residential population without proportional increase in commercial use.
These are a few examples of the myths that have circulated around our community for a long time until people are starting to believe them. With all the commotion and fuss over the proposal submitted by the Payson Water Department and Town Council, it would be easy to get caught up in all the hoopla and consider the so-called “water wars” over. Wouldn't that be great!
But if we sort through the propaganda and spin and look at the whole picture,the proposal offered to Star Valley doesn't look quite so appealing. In fact, Star Valley would be be making a grave mistake accepting the proposal as offered.
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