City Council Study Session - August 11th 2026

The City of Prescott held a City Council Study Session on August 11, 2026, focused on long-term water management planning. The session included detailed presentations by hydrogeologist Dylan Easthouse and Water Resources Manager Brian Reese regarding groundwater modeling, aquifer conditions, and supply-demand projections for the Prescott Active Management Area (AMA), particularly the Little Chino Subbasin. The discussion covered the technical aspects of groundwater flow models, aquifer thickness, water table trends, and legal water supply constraints under Arizona's assured water supply program. The council reviewed the city's current water supplies, demand projections, and conservation efforts, emphasizing the need to balance physical water availability with legal pumping limits. The city has engaged consultants and allocated approximately $245,000 for the current phase of the long-term water management plan, supplemented by a $40,000 federal USBR grant, with an estimated additional $200,000 to $300,000 planned for future studies on major water supplies. The total cost represents about 1.2% of the city's annual water and wastewater budget. The session concluded with plans for a follow-up meeting to continue discussions on water supply strategies and infrastructure planning.