Arkansans are an odd bunch when it comes to summer weather. We like having cooler temperatures because it means we save money on air conditioning, but we hate not being able to fully enjoy the Natural State, which in turn affects the businesses that depend on summertime visitors.
We also tend to suffer memory loss. It's easy to forget the brown lawns, the sweat-soaked work clothes, and the impact that blazing hot summers have on our water supply when it's cool enough to sit on the deck and sip a glass of iced tea.
Don't be fooled by a mild summer during this debate over water. It was as recent as 2012 when the city set new records for water production after successive days of triple-digit temperatures and the city was considering water conservation measures.
Hot Springs and Garland County have a water supply problem that needs to be remedied sooner rather than later. And the first and best option on the table at the moment, and the foreseeable future, is DeGray Lake. Hot Springs pulled off a miracle in October 2013 when it negotiated successfully to obtain a portion of Central Arkansas Water's water rights in DeGray. It would be a travesty to see that hard-fought victory slip away because some in the community insist that conservation and Lake Ouachita are a better solution.
Getting an allocation from Lake Ouachita may be possible, but the city says it may require many years of studies and negotiations, while the water from DeGray is available now, at a lower cost.
The Hot Springs Board of Directors on Tuesday appointed two of its members to a new nine-member bilateral Community Water Committee to search for a common ground and a common solution to the water crisis facing the community. District 3 Director Becca Clark and District 6 Director Randy Fale were appointed by Mayor Ruth Carney to sit on the committee.
The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and Fifty for the Future petitioned the city board and the Garland County Quorum Court to establish the committee. The proposal calls for the committee to be comprised of two members of the quorum court, two members of the city board, Larry Stephens, a private citizen, and four at-large community citizens. The quorum court is expected to name its committee members at its Sept. 8 meeting.
The citizens of Garland County came together in a similar fashion three years ago on a desperately needed new jail that we will begin seeing the benefits from in just a few short months. Garland County Judge Rick Davis, Garland County Sheriff Larry Sanders, and Stephens were instrumental in making that happen.
Doing so will require everyone to unite, once again, for the greater good of our community, just as we did for the passage of the jail proposal in October 2011, and as we did once again in rejecting a change in the form of government in May 2013 with an unprecedented, decisive 91 to 9 percent outcome.
There are always groups that work against such progress. Two days after the city named its committee members, the Garland Good Government Group presented petitions for a ballot measure which, if approved, would halt the city's efforts to acquire additional water from DeGray. They would have you believe there is no water crisis. They are wrong.
The proposal flies in the face of our continued growth, the welfare of our children, grandchildren, and future generations. They certainly don't offer any solutions to any of the problems that face our community, other than short-term, short-sighted stopgap measures like conservation plans.
Yes, it seems odd that a community surrounded by water has a shortage of that resource, but keep in mind that the Colorado River irrigates nearly 4 million acres of land and provides water to 30 million people in seven states, Newsweek reported earlier this summer.
We should also be very concerned that Dallas has a water problem and could be looking at DeGray as a source if we don't follow through. At the very least, CAW will certainly not grant us the option to use these 20 million gallons per day again, should we balk at this opportunity.
It's great to see city and county residents, city directors and county justices of the peace, coming together and realizing that compromise is necessary on this vital issue. It should reinforce people's faith and trust in their elected officials should this all evolve to mutual benefit.
We simply have to secure this water source, not only to bring new businesses to our community but new residents as well.
Editorial on 08/31/2014