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October 1, 2006
David M. Young
P.O. Box 1077
Beaver Dam, AZ 86432
928-347-6016
Mr. Herb Gunther
Arizona Department of Water
Resources
P.O. Box 458
Phoenix, AZ 85001-0458
RE:
Application # 33-96790
Mr. Gunther,
As a resident who resides along
the “Arizona Strip” in the community of
Beaver Dam, AZ, I am well acquainted with
being positioned between two States =
Mesquite, NV, 10 miles West and St. George,
UT, 28 miles East. The communities of
Beaver Dam, Littlefield, and Desert Springs
border the Virgin River and parallel I-15
interconnecting this area of the “Arizona
Strip” which adjoins both mentioned states.
This area and these communities
have recently become very attractive for
several reasons: 1) Considering the cost of
living (property, utilities, state income
tax, excise and property tax, etc), this
area is about one-third less than Nevada and
more than half of what Utah’s cost
assimilate in desert-style living afforded.
2) For the cost of living and logistic
reasons of being between Mesquite and St.
George, three developers have recently
committed to build over 500 new single
dwelling homes within the next two years in
these three Arizona communities. The
current population base of approximately
5,250 is expected to more than double within
those two years.
3) Our largest and most recent
attraction is
the good and
clean water resource we have.
This water resource
is in
ARIZONA. It is utilized to
service these Arizona communities today and
need for the growth that will shortly
occur. As you may already be aware,
MESQUITE, NEVADA WANTS TO PIPE 14,000 ACRE
FEET OF WATER A YEAR OUT OF THESE ARIZONA
COMMUNITIES FOR THEIR USE AND CONSUMPTION.
Applicant Registry # 33-96790 denotes the
Wind River Resource Application proclaims
its intent to do just that. Along with a
large majority of community residents we are
enraged to learn that 1,800 page application
has been filed and may be considered by your
Department before 2006 year-end.
I am herewith enjoining with
all residents of these communities to
strongly protest # 33-96790
and
beseech
your Department denial
for such,
thus protecting the Arizona residents
therein:
Ø
Water within
the State boundaries must be deemed and
protected resources for Arizona residents
use and consumption. To allow a
business enterprise (Wind River Resource),
to come into this Arizona community and pipe
good clean water to Mesquite, NV, would be
an abuse of AZ Department of Water Resources
fiduciary responsibilities. And, would set
a National precedence for other State’s to
follow.
Ø The Virgin
Valley Water District currently services
some
15,000 Mesquite, NV residents.
Virgin Valley Water District has sufficient
water
infrastructure to service 85,000 City
residents. Application #
33-96790 is not about using Arizona water to
fill the parched water glasses of Mesquite
residents – their water supply is 5 times
their need. Merely, they want our water
because
theirs contain high levels of arsenic.
The kicker is when our water levels run low
Virgin Valley Water will send us back their
arsenic laden (or, sewage treated) water for
replacement and our consumption. I hope you
glean this to be an extreme adverse proposal
the community residents, to the State of
Arizona, and the Department Water Resource.
It threatens our current life-style and
these communities ability to incur any
future prosperity.
Ø
An
exhaustive study by the Arizona Department
Water Resource is required before
due consideration of the Application can be
weighed. “Studies” within Application #
33-96790 do not accurately reflect the
topography of the water tables within this
valley and subsequent “drain” of the water
resource. Such induced water pressure on
this supply may well “sink” these AZ
resident homes into a complete loss of
property and our communities into blight
obscurity.
In summary, it is a fact that
the Wind River Resource group does not own
the land whereby our water would be diverted
to Nevada. The Wind River Resource group
proponents are not AZ residents and have no
interest in this community, nor its future
development and prosperity. It is a fact
that Virgin Valley Water will compensate the
benefactors of Wind River Resources
approximately $6,000,000. per year for
Arizona water diverted to Nevada.
It is also
been conveyed that Virgin Valley Water
intends to sell-off the excess of our water
to Las Vegas. Application #
33-96790 represents the highest form of
“carpet bagging” and infringement upon
Arizona sovereignty. It is a gross
manipulation of AZ State resources which
belong to the residents of Arizona and
therefore must be protected by the AZ
Department of Water Resources.
Mr. Gunter, we in this little
corner of the State of AZ are under
assault. The logic and premise of the
Application is not based on an adjoining
city or states dire need for life-giving
water - quite the opposite. It is based on
using Arizona resources diverted to Nevada
for profit. It would be a tragedy to allow
this Application’s approvals.
The State of
Arizona is under assault and
should enjoin this community in not setting
a president that will have devastating
affects on its residents and other States
that will surely be assaulted for the same
purposes.
I ask that you take the time to
fully review what is being tenured before
your Department. Fully comprehend and
weigh the Application’s down-side with
devastating implications on this community.
Upon doing so, I believe you will reach the
conclusion that: AZ must protect its
resources. AZ must utilize these resources
for the betterment of its residents and
growth within the State.
Therefore,
deny Application # 33-96790.
Sincerely Yours;
David M. Young
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