Bill > HCR2046

This concurrent resolution addresses the declining water levels in the Colorado River by highlighting key environmental factors contributing to water loss. The resolution specifically focuses on two main issues: forest mismanagement and the proliferation of salt cedar (tamarisk) trees, which are invasive plants that consume significant amounts of water. The document notes that the Colorado River Basin has been in drought since 2000, and that overgrown forests and salt cedar trees dramatically reduce water availability through excessive evapotranspiration. Salt cedars, introduced in the 1800s, can consume up to 200 gallons of water per day and currently cover nearly two million acres of river banks, representing a substantial water consumption challenge. The resolution calls on state and federal legislators to support eradicating salt cedars, managing forests responsibly, and providing funding for these efforts. It urges government administrators to acknowledge that conservation investments will be ineffective without addressing these underlying environmental issues. The resolution concludes by requesting that the Arizona Secretary of State distribute copies of this resolution to various federal government officials, including the President, congressional leaders, and heads of relevant federal agencies, to raise awareness and promote action on water conservation in the Colorado River watershed.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/82685