River recharge project funding headed for Cochise County
(The Center Square) – A major water project in Cochise County received grant funding.
The Coyote Wash Stormwater Management Project for the San Pedro River will have $1.5 million headed its way for the goal of finishing a “water recharge” effort.
“The San Pedro River is a one-of-a-kind desert river that plays a critical role in the habitat and ecosystem of the region,” Gov. Katie Hobbs said regarding the project’s grant. “This funding isn’t just dollars and cents, it’s a down payment on the state’s long-term commitment to securing Arizona’s water future. Important water conservation projects like this, alongside efforts to reform rural groundwater management will bring real solutions to build a sustainable future across the entire state.”
According to the Central Arizona Project, water recharge is a way to permit water for storage “underground now for recovery later during periods of reduced water supply.” The news release from the governor’s office says the project will specifically help with gathering more “precipitation and stormwater” in the river in order to maintain water supply in the desert, especially in a rural area like Cochise County that relies on water for agricultural purposes.
“We have to protect the Fort, as well as the people, as well as the river,” Cochise County Supervisor Ann English said, according to a news release. “This is the last mile and last dollar we needed to finish this project. We’ve been working on this project, as well as many other conservation projects for years because we knew it needed to happen. Our flood control department and our staff in the supervisor’s office all have been and are committed toward working toward a better water future for Cochise County.”
The announcement was made in southern Arizona on Monday with numerous environmental groups, as well as officials from different levels of government, including the federal Bureau of Land Management.
