GR EEN C HAM PIO N
EACH MONTH WE FEATURE A GREEN CHAMPION WHO IS MAKING STRIDES IN THE GREEN COMMUNITY.
Jennifer Martin After returning from the Peace Corps, Jennifer Martin began a 10-year career with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. She was appointed to the office of Game and Fish Commissioner from 2006- 2011. Martin has also served as a water expert for the Sierra Club for nearly four years, "It is easy to become overwhelmed by the threats that face the land, water and wildlife of Arizona," said the Northern Arizona University graduate. "My work allows me to contribute to the greater good through focusing on serving Arizona's wild places and the people who love them through this program.” The commissioner is currently running for Central Arizona Water Conservation District (the Central Arizona Project board of directors). “I am committed to wise water management and to keeping water in Arizona's rivers for the beautiful places they give us, for the wildlife that depend on them, and for the sake of the rivers themselves,” she explained.
"In the ongoing process, the emphasis of the Drought Contingency Plan has been getting through the immediate crisis."
"One of the most critical issues facing the State of Arizona is tackling the Drought Contingency Plan. Martin explained,“In the ongoing process, the emphasis of the Drought Contingency Plan has been getting through the immediate crisis. It is like a World War II philosophy that if we just ration here and there to get through the next little while, we'll come out the other side and things will be like they were. What makes me so excited to be on the ballot for CAWCD is the opportunity for me to emphasize that these ‘temporary crises’ aren’t temporary at all. The constant looming water shortages facing Arizona are the new normal. What we need is a plan to address the fact that too much growth and rapid development has put a strain on our groundwater and has created long term conditions we need to deal with. The players making decisions in the DCP are all focused on shell games to move water around and protect the status quo that got us here in the first place. We need a new paradigm for our economy and our natural resource management to match the reality of our depleted water supply," says Martin. Martin’s dedication to caring for nature inspires those around her to live life sustainably. jennifer.martin@ sierraclub.org
greenlivingaz.com
September 2018 | greenliving
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