The Arizona Department of Water Resources has announced the need to regulate groundwater in the rural southeast of the state. In order to prevent the rapid depletion of water due to agricultural use, a controlled area will be designated. This measure is aimed at ensuring the sustainable management of groundwater resources in Cochise County, Arizona.
According to Director Tom Buschatzke, the analysis of hydrologic conditions in Arizona’s Willcox basin indicates that the necessary measures must be taken to protect our groundwater resources for future generations.
Under state law, the director, Buschatzke, has the authority to designate an “active management area” for the Willcox Groundwater Basin in Arizona’s Cochise and Graham counties.
“In a statement, he emphasized that our staff has openly discussed the hydrologic conditions in the basin during public hearings held in Willcox. Additionally, they have addressed the comments and feedback received from members of the public regarding our presentations. He further stated that these hydrologic conditions meet the statutory requirements.”
According to a statement by the water agency, the director announced the designation on Thursday, after conducting public hearings on the matter. Throughout this period, new agriculture use was prohibited in the basin while the department deliberated on the creation of a management area southeast of Tucson. This management area would enable the agency to establish goals for the overall health and sustainability of the basin and its aquifers.
Gov. Katie Hobbs and the state water resources agency faced mounting pressure from local residents to address the issue of groundwater depletion.
On December 20, Hobbs expressed her admiration for the designation.
According to her, she has received feedback from various individuals and entities, including families, farmers, and businesses, who have suffered severe consequences as a result of uncontrolled pumping by large corporations that lack accountability. These individuals have reported instances where their wells have dried up, their homes have been damaged by cracks in the ground, and their farms are struggling to survive.
According to a report from the water resources department, the continuous pumping of water at high rates can lead to the drying up of wells and the subsequent collapse of the ground, resulting in damage to roads and other properties. The report reveals that within the years 2000 and 2020, 26 wells in the basin, which are regularly monitored, experienced a significant decline ranging from 10 feet (3 meters) to nearly 142 feet (43 meters).
Historically, Arizona farm interests have been against groundwater pumping regulations, arguing that they are too rigid for their needs.
The Willcox Groundwater Basin management area was established through executive action, making it the first of its kind since the approval of Arizona’s Groundwater Management Act in 1980. Similar laws have led to the creation of several other management areas in Arizona. It’s worth noting that the urban areas of Phoenix and Tucson have been under groundwater management for quite some time.