On May 4, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the members of the Governor’s Water Policy Council, which she created by Executive Order.
“Arizona is a dynamic, ever-growing state. But to secure economic prosperity for generations to come, we must build on our legacy of responsible water management,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “I’m committed to passing water policies that meet this moment and tackle the challenges we face. I know that with our new Water Policy Council, we will develop the path forward and ensure our state’s natural resources are available for generations of Arizonans to come.
The bipartisan Council includes representation from the Arizona legislature, executive agency cabinet directors, water providers, cities, the development community, agriculture, industry, conservation organizations, university experts, and more.
Governor Hobbs’ Water Policy Council also provides for historic representation of Tribal communities across Arizona as part of her Administration’s commitment to ensuring Arizona’s Tribal partners have a seat at the table.
The Council is tasked with developing policy and legislative recommendations for the Governor, and will begin its work with a focus on Assured Water Supply and rural groundwater policies.
Governor’s Office and Cabinet Directors
- Tom Buschatzke – Council Chair, Director, ADWR
- Karen Peters – Director, ADEQ
- Patrick J. Adams – Governor’s Water Policy Advisor
- Robyn Sahid – Commissioner, ASLD
- Sandra Watson – President & CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority
- Tom Torres – Arizona State Forester
Legislators
- Representative Gail Griffin
- Representative Stacey Travers
- Senator Sine Kerr
- Senator Priya Sundareshan
Tribal Communities
- Maria Dadgar, Executive Director, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
- Representative of the Navajo Nation
- Two tribal communities within current AMAs, as recommended by ITCA
- One tribal community outside current AMAs, as recommended by ITCA
Stakeholders
- Abe Springer – Professor of Ecohydrology NAU College of Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences
- Brenda Burman – General Manager, CAP
- Cheryl Lombard – President & CEO, Valley Partnership
- Chris Kuzdas – Senior Water Program Manager, Environmental Defense Fund
- Chris Udall – Executive Director, Agribusiness & Water Council of Arizona
- Craig Sullivan – Executive Director, County Supervisors Association of Arizona
- Cynthia Campbell – Water Resources Management Advisor, City of Phoenix
- Doug Dunham – Manager of Water Resources, EPCOR USA
- Haley Paul – Arizona Policy Director, Audubon Southwest
- Jamie Kelley – General Counsel, Mohave County Water Authority
- Joe Olsen – Southern Arizona Water Users Association
- Joe Singleton – Executive Director, Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority
- John Kmiec – Director, Tucson Water
- Kathy Ferris – Former Director, ADWR / Groundwater Management Study Commission, Governor’s Water Policy Council
- Leslie Meyers – Associate General Manager, SRP
- Ron Doba – Executive Director, Northern Arizona Municipal Water Users Association
- Sandy Fabritz – Director of Water Strategy, Freeport-McMoRan
- Sarah Porter – Executive Director, ASU Kyl Center for Water Policy
- Sharon Megdal – Director, UA Water Resources Research Center
- Spencer Kamps – VP of Legislative Affairs, Home Builders Association of Central Arizona
- Stefanie Smallhouse – President, Arizona Farm Bureau Federation
- Warren Tenney – Executive Director, Arizona Municipal Water Users Association