Arizona’s Water Dispute: A Legal Battle Over Groundwater
A legal confrontation is brewing in Arizona over groundwater usage, pitting a Saudi-Arabian farming entity against state officials. Fondomonte, a company with Saudi backing, is seeking to halt a lawsuit initiated by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. The lawsuit claims that Fondomonte’s groundwater extraction has adversely affected the Ranegras Plain basin community.
The lawsuit, based on Arizona’s public nuisance law, was filed in 2024. Meanwhile, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) established a groundwater protection zone, known as an Active Management Area, in the same basin last year.
Fondomonte argues that this development should be sufficient to resolve the legal issues. The company presented its case to Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Minder, suggesting that a premature ruling could conflict with ADWR’s regulatory actions.
The farming company plans to apply for grandfathered irrigated groundwater rights in the Ranegras Plain Basin, aiming to maintain their current water usage levels for agricultural purposes. Fondomonte believes that the ADWR’s evaluation process is the appropriate mechanism for regulating their groundwater activities.
However, Mayes’ legal team disputes this claim. They argue that the ADWR lacks the authority to curtail Fondomonte’s water consumption. Instead, the agency will simply monitor and cap the company’s usage at existing levels.
A spokesperson for the ADWR has stated that the department is maintaining a neutral position and refrains from commenting on the ongoing litigation.
Judge Minder is currently evaluating the arguments presented by both parties.
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