Regulating Groundwater Use: A Step Towards Sustainability in Arizona’s Rural Southeast

The Dire Need for Groundwater Regulation

In a move destined to impact future generations, the Arizona Department of Water Resources has announced its decision to regulate groundwater use in Arizona’s rural southeast. Over the years, the reckless withdrawal of water through agricultural use has resulted in a severe depletion of water resources, making it crucial to establish a controlled area to curb this rampant consumption.

Active Management Area: The Responder to Groundwater Depletion

Tom Buschatzke, Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, has identified the necessity of demarcating an “active management area” for the Willcox Groundwater Basin, located in Arizona’s Cochise and Graham counties. This decision stems from a meticulous data analysis of hydrologic conditions in the basin, pointing towards the urgent need to protect our groundwater supplies for the generations to come.

Public Hearings: An Indication of Cross-Sector Engagement

This regulation was not imposed arbitrarily. It involved a process of public participation. The public hearings held in Willcox served as a platform where staff and the public jointly examined the alarming hydrologic conditions in the basin. It was a crucial step in emphasizing the commitment to recognizing public opinion in the decision-making process.

The Aftermath of Groundwater Depletion: Heightened Concerns and Responses

This action towards controlling groundwater use has come after considerable pressure from the local residents, who have long grappled with the consequences of rampant groundwater depletion. The Governor, Katie Hobbs, and the state water resources agency have been urged to address this crisis that has led to wells running dry, homes damaged by earth fissures, and farms struggling to sustain.

Unchecked Pumping: A Highlight of Irresponsibility

Corporations, big and small, have been engaging in unchecked pumping that has wreaked havoc on families, farmers, and businesses alike. High rates of pumping have also contributed to the ground collapsing, damaging roads and properties. This act of regulating groundwater use in Arizona is partially an attempt to hold these corporations accountable for their actions.

Arizona’s Groundwater Management Act: A Retrospective Look

Arizona’s history of groundwater management demonstrates opposition from farm interests who argue that regulating groundwater pumping can be inflexible. This argument, however, has been losing ground in recent years as the impacts of water scarcity have become too severe to ignore. The move to establish the management area for the Willcox Groundwater Basin is the first of its kind since the approval of Arizona’s Groundwater Management Act in 1980. A similar law created the management areas in other parts of Arizona.

Phoenix and Tucson: Exemplars of Groundwater Management Success Stories

The urban areas of Phoenix and Tucson offer shining examples of successful groundwater management. They provide a blueprint for how the newly created Willcox Groundwater Basin management area might succeed. This model embraces responsible water usage and places a premium on the water’s inherent value.

Conclusion

As the first region to establish a groundwater management area by executive action since 1980, the Willcox Groundwater Basin is a testament to the government’s resolution in combating water scarcity. By regulating groundwater use in Arizona’s rural southeast, the state takes a step towards securing water supplies for future generations, a move that should inspire and inform similar efforts across the nation.

Originally Post From https://wtop.com/national/2024/12/arizona-agency-takes-action-to-regulate-groundwater-use-in-rural-southeast/

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