Water in Tucson: Policy, Planning, and Public Involvement

Abstract

This paper describes and assesses the policies, planning agencies, and citizen advisory committees which are involved in water resource decision making in the Tucson basin. Shifting priorities in basin water uses are traced by reviewing four events and trends. This review, together with a description of existing policies and planning agencies, provides the basis for assessing the status and potential for public involvement in water resource decision making. The influence of the citizens advisory committees on water resource decision making depends on the relationship among an agency, a committee, and the general public. If citizens advisory committees are to address controversial issues, such as those surrounding the priorities of water use in the basin, a link between community education and political participation is necessary.