Funding Water Security on the Ground in Arizona

In Arizona, and throughout the West, we face a common challenge: long-term drought, hotter temperatures, and more variable rain and snowfall. That is why it is essential to invest—with local, state, federal, philanthropic, and corporate funding—in protecting existing water supplies and the landscapes and watersheds that sustain them.  

Facing this challenge means identifying ways to make community water supplies more resilient. 

In rural Arizona in particular, where there are smaller population centers and limited water supplies, investing in water systems through on-the-ground projects has proved helpful in stewarding groundwater and surface (river) water.  

That is why Audubon Southwest and The Nature Conservancy partnered with local community leaders to showcase water projects in the heart of the Verde Valley—where the Verde River begins near Paulden, Arizona, and flows through picturesque communities like Clarkdale, the Yavapai-Apache Nation, Cottonwood, and Camp Verde. The Verde River Watershed in north central Arizona supports the Verde River and its tributaries—one of Arizona’s few remaining rivers that flows year-round and is a haven for birds and other wildlife in an arid state. 

More than 50 participants—including state legislators, staff from Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly’s office, staff from Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District Republican U.S. Rep. Eli Crane’s office, Governor Katie Hobbs’ office, County Supervisors, Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona board members, media, philanthropic and corporate donors, conservation organizations, local community leaders, and water managers—attended the tour and learned firsthand about the water projects improving water security in rural communities in this part of the state.  

The three tour stops included:  

1. Town of Camp Verde’s Sports Complex:  As the community continues to grow, the Town of Camp Verde has invested in a new recreational facility, the Camp Verde Sports Complex, which  utilizes reclaimed water (treated wastewater) to irrigate ball fields, stretching water supplies by saving drinking water for homes and businesses. The Town shared about their efforts to install Advanced Metering Infrastructure throughout their service area to more accurately measure water use (and pinpoint leaks!), to conduct system-wide imaging to scan and detect water leaks in Town pipes, and to upgrade their water treatment system to improve water quality.  Looking ahead, Camp Verde is evaluating options for groundwater recharge to replenish groundwater and remains committed to enhancing system efficiency and reliability. 

2. Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Reclamation Facility: This new facility, once completed, will treat wastewater to high-quality Class A+ reclaimed water, which will be used to irrigate agricultural fields and support ecological restoration efforts on the reservation. The facility also plays a central role in advancing the Nation’s water security and supports their pending Tribal water rights settlement. Verde River water users downstream—including irrigation districts, recreationists, homeowners, as well as large cities in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area—will benefit from improved flow and water quality in the Verde River because of the Nation’s facility. 

3. Clarkdale Water Campus: The Clarkdale Water Campus is a centralized site for the Town’s water management, including an arsenic treatment plant and laboratory. Stewarding water resources as well as protecting flows in the Verde River is vital to Clarkdale’s position as a hub for outdoor recreation and sustainable development in the region. Towards this goal, the Town has pursued projects funded by state and federal grants, as well as secured congressionally directed spending thanks to the support of U.S. Senator Mark Kelly. With these funds, the Town of Clarkdale is implementing cellular water meters (to improve accuracy and efficiency of data collection), planning a new piping system to deliver reclaimed water to local parks, replacing a sanitary sewer (wastewater) line, installing a new well for reliability, expanding water storage in their drinking water piping distribution system, and treating arsenic. The Town of Clarkdale also aims to enhance stormwater infiltration in the soil and reduce flood risk—an integrated strategy that also supports groundwater recharge. 

Verde Valley irrigators and farmers also shared how they are improving infrastructure to optimize water delivery and implement on-farm irrigation efficiency projects that support Verde River flows. Local conservation group, Friends of the Verde River, discussed their efforts to remove invasive plants and restore native habitat along the river and within the watershed. And the City of Cottonwood highlighted their water management strategy, which has significantly reduced water demand within the city over the last 15 years. 

These on-the-ground projects (and numerous others) greatly boost water reliability and overall water security in the Verde Valley—thanks to the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona, as well as federal, corporate, and philanthropic investments. What’s more, these projects help the Verde River—by improving water quality, replenishing groundwater, and conserving water. It is vital we continue to support efforts like these that protect our existing water supplies as well as the groundwater basins and watersheds where the water originates.