February 19, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ADWR Grants RCSC Water Allocation Relief
In a quest to solve the predicament of RCSC’s lake [Viewpoint] with a considerable history of an ever increasing seepage problem, RCSC management researched every option available to produce a resolution without creating the excessive financial burden or extreme disruption of the community which would be caused by replacing the liner in the lake. In their [management’s] relentless pursuit, which included the consideration of qualifying for replenishing the aquifer below the lake (eliminated as a possibility after several months of investigation and research), RCSC management discovered the opportunity to apply for administrative review of the adjusted total maximum annual water allotment pursuant to Arizona Revised Statute § 45-575(A).
In the fall of 2011, RCSC’s management and legal counsel met with the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to verify RCSC’s ability to apply for such a review. Once confirmed, management created a water management plan, including RCSC’s historical data, and submitted such explaining that the seepage of Viewpoint Lake would cause RCSC to continually exceed the total maximum annual water allotment and the cost of replacing the lake’s liner was cost prohibitive and disproportionate for the community.
The stipulation in granting the relief from meeting the total water allocation during ADWR’s Phoenix Active Management Area (PhxAMA) Third Management Plan period is the replacement of the golf course irrigation systems at North, Willowcreek, Riverview, Willowbrook and Lakes East in the next five years. The other stipulation is that RCSC disseminate water education materials to the residents of Sun City by providing water education classes on an annual basis.
While PhxAMA’s third management plan period will come to an end in the next couple years once the fourth management plan is completed by ADWR, RCSC will be able to apply again for administrative review and based on this recent approval, RCSC can expect to receive similar, if not identical, stipulations and approval. The fourth management plan will be for a period of ten years.
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