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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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| Name | George B. Brooks, Jr. |
| Address | 7802 S. 14 st
Phoenix, Arizona 85042, United States |
| Email | Editor@TheEbonyCactus.com |
| Website | None |
| Born |
September 28, 1955 |
| Died |
Still Living
(69 years) |
| Contributor | Thomas Walker |
| Last Modifed | Thomas Walker
Oct 17, 2006 01:15pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | George B. Brooks, Jr. was appointed by Governor Napolitano in August 2003, to complete the term of the late George L. Campbell. Dr. Brooks is an Environmental Scientist with expertise in NEPA and Endangered Species Act compliance, arid lands aquaculture/irrigated agriculture integration, fisheries biology, endangered species restoration, project management, recreational site development, artificial wetland waste treatment systems, and riparian area restoration and preservation.
Dr. Brooks earned a B.S. from Arizona State University, an M.S. from San Diego State University and a Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries resources from the University of Arizona where he serves as adjunct faculty. Dr. Brooks is employed by the Gila River Indian Community and serves as the Environmental Coordinator for the Pima-Maricopa Irrigation Project and the Department of Land Use Planning and Zoning. He is the co-founder of RighTrac, an agricultural consulting firm and The Ebony Cactus, an electronic business magazine. Dr. Brooks is a published author with articles in numerous public and professional journals focusing on aquaculture and mitigating agricultural water costs. He also serves as the President of the Arizona Council of Black Engineers and Scientists, is an Elder in Southminster Presbyterian Church, serves on the South Mountain Village Planning Committee and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
An Arizona native, Dr. Brooks resides in Phoenix with his wife Angela. They have four daughters, Andrea (18), Amanda (17), Haley (13) and Hasina (9). In his spare time he enjoys photography and salt water aquaria.
Name: George B. Brooks, Jr.
Address: 7802 S. 14st Phoenix, 85042
Phone: 602-363-1677
EMail: Editor@TheEbonyCactus.com
Website: (under construction)
Fax: 602-437-8852
Occupation: Co-Publisher and Editor The Ebony Cactus magazine ([Link] Natural Resource Consultant
Previous Occupation: Environmental Coordinator Pima Maricopa Irrigation Project, Gila River Indian Community; Cooperative Extension Specialist; Natural Resource Scientist
Education: BS Arizona State University (Zoology); MS, San Diego State University (Biology); Ph.D. University of Arizona: Wildlife and Fisheries Science/School or Renewable Natural Resources/College of Agriculture
Birth Date: 09-28-1955
Family: Wife (Angela) Daughters (Andrea 21), (Amanda 20), (Haley 16), (Hasina12), Grandson Marcus (7 months)
How long have you lived in Arizona? I was Born and Raised in Phoenix Arizona
What is your party registration and how long have you been registered as a member of that party? Life Long Democrat
Previous public offices you've sought/held: Current member of the CAWCD Board of Directors
Member South Mountain Village Planning Committee
Member Governor Janet Napolitano’s Minority Advisory Board.
Member Tom Horn’s Minority Advisory Board
Civic organizations in which you've been active? South Mountain Chamber of Commerce
Greater Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce
Arizona Council of Black Engineers and Scientists
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
Do you have any sort of a criminal record or any outstanding civil judgments? Please be specific. No.
EIGHT QUESTIONS
The CAWCD board toils in virtual anonymity. The subject is complex. There is no pay. Why are you running for a seat on the board?
I have been blessed through education and work experience with an understanding the economic and environmental challenges facing Arizona’s water supply. To whom much is given, much is expected. Thus I desire to use my knowledge and expertise for the common good.
List your top two priorities. Please explain each.
Short Term: Protection of Arizona’s CAP allocation. We are currently in what may be an extended time of drought. Under such conditions Arizona’s Junior status on the river increases our vulnerability to shortage. (In other words, if there is a shortage, Arizona may loose part of its water supply while “senior” states keep theirs) On the short term we must work hard to protect Arizona allocation of Colorado River water and should a shortage occur, work to insure a fair distribution of the burden amongst the 7 states sharing the river.
Long Term: The Preservation and Enhancement of Arizona’s Colorado River allocation. Over the long term of 50 to 100 years, the water issues that we must confront are both subtle and gross. Few if any may be solved with simple, easy sounding answers. Our state is growing rapidly yet with without water, the state can not prosper economically nor environmentally. We must therefor work diligently to preserve the health of the CAP and to create the water supply to sustain short and long term economic development while encouraging wise and efficient water use. Simultaneously we must take great care to protect the environment that is the source of our water. We must never allow water to become our Katrina.
How would you rate the existing management and staff of the Central Arizona Project? Are they doing a good job or poor job? Please explain.
The CAP staff is doing an excellent job. They maintain the health of the system preventing costly shutdowns, they work diligently to identify and address potential legal and political challenges to Arizona’s water allocation. Most recently they have taken significant step in following the Board's direction to become “collaborative leaders" in the water community. For example, one significant collaboration was developing with environmental groups a format where the Yuma Desalter can be operated while preserving important environmental resources. A win-win situation.
No body likes a yes-man. There will always be a tension between a dynamic professional staff and an energetic elected leadership. That is the nature of the American system of government. The result is a diversity in expertise and viewpoints that helps to insure that all possible solutions are considered and then for the best ones to rise to the top.
Do you support Arizona's water bank and its agreement with Nevada? Why or why not?
Part of the mission of the CAP is to be a collaborative leader in the water community. This means working with neighboring states to create mutually beneficial solutions to long term water problems. The water bank agreement with Nevada was such a collaboration.
The Imperial Irrigation District of California is in a legal dispute with Mexico over the lining of the All American canal. A stay on the construction has been granted by the 9th Circuit Court. Should the canal be lined or not?
Yes. The canal should be lined.
Do you favor restarting the Yuma Desalting Plant? Why or why not?
Yes. The Yuma Desalter is part of spectrum of solutions to increase the amount of water available Colorado including river augmentation projects, better river management, lining the All American Canal and other methods. It is also an important test case of collaboration with in this case environmental groups to create win win solutions to a potentially divisive challenges. Such collaborations will be critical if we are to move forward in preserving Arizona’s water supply for the future.
Do you support ongoing Colorado River augmentation efforts such as cloud seeding and the removal or tamarisk trees. What other ideas do you have?
I was one of, if not the first advocate of removing tamarisk on the CAP board and have been vocal public proponent of the concept. In summary, tamarisk are invasive non-native plants that use of far more water than the native vegetation they displaced. Since very few things eat this plant, they have also disrupted the terrestrial and aquatic ecology of the region. I believe that though their removal we will not only recover invaluable lost water supplies, but because for the removal to be successful these trees must be replaced by native vegetation such as cottonwoods and willows, we will be simultaneously restoring the states ecology and increasing the very environment that supports the states billion dollar recreational industry. I call this a win-win-win.
Tamarisk removal is not the only solution, but its a good one.
Was the Gila River Indian Community settlement good for Arizona? Why or why not?
Yes. The agreement settled a long term dispute that was disrupting the ability of state leaders to make long term plans. Now, working in collaboration with all stakeholders including the Tribes, we can move forward to plan for the states short and long term water use.
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