PHOENIX — Arizona’s Governor, Katie Hobbs, has reiterated her commitment to regulate groundwater in the state’s rural areas as it continues to grapple with severe drought conditions. On Thursday, she expressed hope that her renewed efforts would garner support in the Republican-led Legislature. Hobbs emphasized the importance of urgent legislative action, aiming for a collaborative approach with local officials, rural Republican leaders, and Democratic lawmakers present at the proposal’s announcement.
“A significant amount of progress was made last year in the negotiations surrounding rural groundwater reform, more than has been achieved in the past,” Hobbs remarked. “This time, we aren’t starting from scratch; we’re building on a solid foundation.” Although similar bills were presented in both legislative chambers on the same day, they currently lack co-sponsors from the Republican side. Meanwhile, Republican leaders, including Prescott Mayor Phil Goode, have called for a bipartisan perspective on the issue of water resource management in Arizona.
“Water isn’t classified as Democratic or Republican,” Goode stated. “It’s essential for our state as a whole.” Travis Lingenfelter, a Republican and chair of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors, indicated that Republicans are expected to introduce their own legislation regarding rural groundwater next week, although this could not be confirmed by a spokesperson for the Senate GOP. Lingenfelter also noted how last year’s negotiations showed both parties initially had vastly different starting points but have now moved significantly closer to a compromise that could satisfy both sides.
Groundwater management is already regulated in Arizona’s densely populated regions such as Phoenix and Tucson, established through a law from 1980 that remains unchanged. This new legislative proposal aims to create a balanced alternative between the existing active management areas and irrigation non-expansion zones, which restrict farming on newly acquired land. Critics have pointed out that active management areas tend to be overly stringent, whereas irrigation non-expansion areas are often regarded as insufficiently regulated.
The proposed legislation would establish four rural groundwater management areas in regions facing significant depletion, specifically around Gila Bend, Kingman, Vicksburg, and Willcox. Additionally, it seeks to transition the Willcox Basin, currently an active management area, to a more lenient regulatory framework. The conservation measures outlined in this new proposal are designed to be more accommodating compared to previous Democratic suggestions and would also institute local councils empowered to set conservation goals, reflecting a request made by Republican members last year.
In the event that the legislature fails to reach an agreement during this session, Governor Hobbs has stated that she would not hesitate to take unilateral action to address the groundwater crisis.
