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La Paz County supervisor warns HB 2758 could shift McMullen Valley water to urban areas
Summary
Supervisor Erwin told the La Paz County Board Feb. 2 that House Bill 2758 seeks to change eligibility language for the McMullen Valley Basin and accused a New York equity firm of trying to move local water to urban markets; he said his testimony was entered in the record after illness prevented in‑person testimony.
Supervisor Erwin told the La Paz County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 2 that House Bill 2758 (HB 2758) would change eligibility language tied to McMullen Valley Basin water rights and could allow water to be moved from the valley to urban areas.
"It was very disheartening to watch the dog and pony show that was done between Representative Griffin and Stan Barnes, who is the lobbyist for Water Asset Management, which is the New York equity firm that is trying to change that legislation so they can move water away from McMullen to the urban areas," Erwin said, adding he had planned to testify in person but filed written testimony after missing the hearing due to the flu.
Erwin said the original statute references properties purchased in 1988 or earlier and that the bill proposes to alter the eligible entities tied to that language. He urged the board and residents to track the bill as it moves to the Senate Natural Resources Committee.
The board did not take formal action on HB 2758 during the meeting. Supervisor Erwin said he had asked consulting staff to monitor legislation in Phoenix and that Policy Development Group, the county's new legislative consultant, had begun work in the Capitol.
Next steps: supervisors said they would continue to follow the bill's progress at the state level and rely on the county's legislative consultant to represent local concerns.
