Local opinion: Ciscomani should follow Mo Udall’s example on Arizona water

Morris K. Udall successfully delivered the water security his Tucson constituents wanted in the late 1960’s. As Tucson’s congressman from 1961-91, there were things dearer to his heart, including national parks, but he set them aside to spend his time and talent on pushing through the Central Arizona Project, which today accounts for 80 percent of Tucson’s renewable water supply. He reached across party lines to bring the entire Arizona Congressional delegation into agreement. He collaborated with other members of Congress from Colorado River Basin states to approve the CAP. One of the conditions for the negotiated settlement was agreement with California to guarantee 4.4 million acre-feet of Colorado River water a year. Arizona’s allocations, thus, are junior to California and most other allocations. The agreement was the best Mo Udall could secure up against a more populated state with five times the number of Arizona’s Congressional members. Without strong leadership arising from Tucson, there would be no CAP.

Today a far more serious water crisis exists than that of the 1960’s as Arizona and Tucson face cuts in CAP deliveries. Sadly, the Congressional expertise and energy necessary to get anything substantial done does not exist. What a representative from a southern Arizona district should be doing is negotiating one-on-one with other basin members of Congress from both parties, not pointing the finger of blame at the other party. Conservation efforts toward sustainable water use, such as those outlined by the Water Management Group in Tucson, must be made. Deals need to be struck with agriculture to reduce use. It needs to be remembered that while agriculture contributes to food security, it is the state’s major water user, and so attention should be on reasonable compensation and help to local populations in areas such as Benson who depend on farm-related businesses.

What kind of leadership is coming from Mo Udall’s old district now? Juan Ciscomani’s efforts have been insufficient and low-profile. Rather than emulating Mo Udall to work across the aisle to resolve these issues, he takes potshots at the other party. He is a co-chair of the bipartisan congressional Colorado River Caucus. This caucus has not resulted in cooperation and has not succeeded in reducing Arizona’s exposure to Law of the River-based decisions, including those struck to authorize and fund the CAP. To be sure, Ciscomani has secured an appropriation of $50 million. Yet such a tiny amount usually funds specific, localized projects, pilot programs, or minor line items within a massive agency budget, rather than major national initiatives. As a vulnerable candidate in a swing district, Ciscomani is in a position to command attention and money. He ought to be showing real leadership toward a fair basin-wide solution,

Unlike Ciscomani, other leaders are stepping up. Senator Ruben Gallego and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero last week called for new federal assistance to help fund critical new infrastructure for safe, clean water and water reuse. Ciscomani’s opponent in the CD6 race, Joanna Mendoza, sees the need to work across party and state lines to create a basin-wide agreement that protects southern Arizona. National issues are eclipsing the needs and interests of the people of Arizona as money flows to campaigns in amounts that would go a good way toward addressing water needs. Tucson needs our members of Congress to step up and visibly lead on the most critical issue facing us today.