Arizona Faces Stalemate Over Groundwater Management Amid Drought
In Arizona, the ongoing struggle between the state’s governor and the Republican-led Legislature over groundwater management in rural regions has reached a critical point. As water scarcity intensifies due to prolonged drought, both parties are under pressure to find common ground—but time is running out.
At the start of the legislative session, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs appeared optimistic, aligning with local Republican leaders to advocate for the establishment of rural groundwater management areas. However, negotiations have come to a standstill, and frustration is mounting on both sides. Talks last occurred in early April, according to Governor Hobbs’ office, and efforts to reach an agreement have been hindered by GOP dissatisfaction with a separate proposal from the Arizona Department of Water Resources. This proposal, which aims to significantly reduce overdraft in the Willcox Basin, has been deemed “unattainable” by Republican negotiator Sen. Tim Dunn.
Overdraft, a situation where groundwater extraction surpasses natural replenishment, remains a pressing issue. Governor Hobbs has indicated that if the legislature adjourns without a resolution, she plans to take unilateral action.
Disagreements Amidst Dwindling Water Supplies
In rural Arizona, water basins are largely unregulated, and Republicans and Democrats have diverging views on managing this critical resource. Negotiators have clashed over proposed mandates aimed at reducing groundwater extraction from aquifers. The Republican plan is criticized by Democrats for not being ambitious enough, while Republicans argue that the Democratic proposal is too stringent.
There is also a lack of consensus regarding the composition of local councils responsible for groundwater governance, the specific basins to be regulated, and the future regulatory pathway. As underground water reserves continue to deplete, some rural wells have dried up, forcing residents to either drill deeper or relocate, according to Sarah Porter, director of the Arizona State University Kyl Center for Water Policy. Although groundwater management may not reverse the decline, it can slow the process, she noted.
Arizona’s current groundwater regulatory framework, established in 1980, primarily targets urban areas like Phoenix and Tucson. Porter emphasized that these active management areas were designed for urban growth and are too onerous for rural regions reliant on agriculture.
The Arizona Department of Water Resources’ initiative to reduce overdraft in the Willcox Basin has sparked anxiety among Republicans and others, who fear the move could harm rural businesses. For years, bipartisan efforts to legislate groundwater management in rural Arizona have failed to make it to the governor’s desk.
In response to these challenges, a 2022 ballot measure established an active management area in Douglas, a rural city in southeastern Arizona. More recently, Governor Hobbs used executive power to create another in the Willcox Basin.
Negotiations at an Impasse
According to multiple sources, bipartisan negotiators have not convened in recent weeks to expand the Groundwater Management Act substantially. Democratic state Sen. Priya Sundareshan, a legislative negotiator, commented, “I think it’s pretty clear that the rural groundwater negotiations are going nowhere.” In a statement on Tuesday, Governor Hobbs accused GOP legislators of avoiding negotiations.
Despite the current impasse, Sen. Dunn has continued to meet with various stakeholders to identify agreeable language for new legislation. However, he acknowledged that the proposal for the Willcox Basin complicates legislative discussions. “If that’s their end game, we can’t get there,” Dunn stated.
Philip Bashaw, CEO of the Arizona Farm Bureau, noted that the proposal has further strained negotiations and increased tensions. “It definitely took a lot of the air out of the balloon, that’s for sure,” Bashaw remarked.
—
Read More Arizona News
