Elections in Cave Creek have always been highly contentious. I know, since I’ve been on the Town Council since 2005 and served as Mayor from 2016-2022. Every two years, this community is put through the wringer hearing from incumbents and challengers as to who’s the best of the bunch (pardon the pun) to run our little town. This year seems particularly combative, given the unknowns about future Colorado River water supplies. Suddenly, we have an abundance of candidates posing as experts in solving water issues even though they haven’t spent one day actually working directly or indirectly in the Arizona water business.
Bob Morris, a chemical engineer and skilled infrastructure professional, has done an outstanding job this last year and a half as Mayor leading the Town’s strategic initiatives on water. Yet despite all his accomplishments, he’s getting criticized for a decision that wasn’t even his: rejecting an “opportunity” to participate in an SRP water augmentation study that has no guarantee of participants ever receiving one single drop.
When I was Mayor, the staff and I met to discuss this chance to participate in a cost-sharing agreement for a feasibility study to increase the storage capacity of water in Bartlett Dam, which is a part of the SRP system. There were two levels of participation for 4 years minimum, from 2022-2025. Only the very substantial cost participants were allowed to vote on issues, including on allocations of any water made available. The cost for a voting seat at the table was $100,000/year ($400,000). The lower-level participants could provide their opinions to the voting members, but not entitled to a vote, at $30,000/year ($120,000). There are twenty-two participants, representing millions of people in large cities, small towns, water companies, irrigation districts and Native American tribes. In other words, those willing to take an expensive longshot at extra water from the Salt and Verde rivers, which are not expected to have much, if any, excess water in the near term.
Additionally, there’s the question of whether we even qualified for a seat at the table. We don’t have a pipeline to SRP, so there isn’t a way to even get any water. Secondly, Cave Creek wouldn’t be using this water supply to replace groundwater, which is one of the potential criteria for participation. The Town Manager and I then decided that this was a high dollar/high risk proposition and could not be justified. Therefore, I did not bring it forward to Council for consideration. And, if I had to make the decision today, it would have the same outcome. The potential for getting any new water from this deal is negligible over the next decade. Buying $120,000 worth of lottery tickets would be just as beneficial.
It is absolutely in Cave Creek’s best interests to re-elect Mayor Bob Morris, who has worked tirelessly for a dozen years to seek practical solutions to protect Cave Creek’s water supplies long into the future. For those who want to point fingers on this decision, point them at me, not Mayor Morris. Or you can just wave goodbye, because I will be headed to the hills after this Tour of Duty. I’ve done the best I could in all areas of Town management, and if I’ve failed anyone, my regrets, but I’m proud of my work, and wish all the best to those who follow.
Ernie Bunch
Former Mayor, Cave Creek
