The Mohave County Board of Supervisors is asking for a “full-blown” environmental impact study in regards to the proposed transfer of Colorado River water from GSC Farms to the town of Queen Creek. (Miner file photo)
Updated as of Saturday, September 25, 2021 8:20 PM
KINGMAN – The Mohave County Board of Supervisors is sending a comment letter to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation asking for a full environmental impact statement regarding the proposed transfer of fourth priority Colorado River water from GSC Farms to the Town of Queen Creek.
The item was placed on the board’s Monday, Sept. 20 agenda for consideration by Supervisor Travis Lingenfelter of District 1, who said it is part of the “ongoing fight against the hedge fund GSC Farms proposing to transfer Colorado River water for really the first time east, 170 miles to the Town of Queen Creek so they can build another 5,500 homes.”
The supervisor said GSC Farms has received the green light from the Arizona Department of Water Resources for the transfer, with the proposal now going to the federal Department of Reclamation. The department has stated that it will conduct an environmental assessment of the proposal prior to making a determination on its future. “These are Mohave County’s comments to that process … really urging the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation to do a full-blown environmental impact statement,” Lingenfelter said.
The board issued a resolution in opposition to the 2,033 acre-foot transfer in 2019, and has remained outspoken in its opposition.
“This precedent-setting transfer will open the door for hedge fund investors like Greenstone to monetize a precious natural resource by transferring water away from rural Arizona to central Arizona; dozens of transfers will undoubtedly follow,” the letter reads.
It also addresses concerns of the Hualapai Tribe and La Paz County, which the letter urges be included in the environmental assessment.
“Finally, the board wishes to bring to the bureau’s attention that Mohave County has long opposed transfers of water away from the Colorado River to Central Arizona,” the letter continues. “Central Arizona through the Central Arizona Project long ago received a large allocation of Priority 4 water. Now Central Arizona seeks additional water from our smaller, rural communities. That water represents our future, and the board opposes this transfer for that reason.”
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