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Groundwater special session unlikely in election year
Republican and Democrat legislative leaders are skeptical that Gov. Katie Hobbs will call a special session for groundwater legislation, despite the governor’s staff saying her office is close to a deal with Republican lawmakers.
Seeking balance between flexibility, certainty in water policy
Given appropriate and relatively predictable conservation requirements, coupled with programs that promote and reward voluntary conservation, and flexibility in water rights to allow for rural economies to adapt to the future, our rural communities will continue to be vibrant and successful for a long time to come.
Gov. Hobbs vetoes bills to curb AG’s groundwater plan
Gov. Katie Hobbs won't let Republican lawmakers strip away the right of Attorney General Kris Mayes to sue the owners of corporate farms whose groundwater pumping dries up the wells of their neighbors.
Republicans to probe Mayes’ town hall meetings
House Republicans are moving quick to investigate the state’s attorney general after forming a committee last week tasked with oversight of executive officials. The House Ad Hoc Committee on Executive Oversight met for its first meeting April 4. Committee Chair Rep. Jacqueline Parker, R-Mesa, and Rep. Austin Smith, R-Wittmann, informed Mayes in a letter April 3 they are primarily examining her[...]
Bill to close groundwater loophole on hold
While the state grapples with housing shortfalls and officials work on water management solutions, a loophole allowing homebuilders to bypass certification requirements may remain unaddressed for another year.
No, the Saudis haven’t stopped pumping Arizona groundwater
The law has crippled groundwater regulation in most of the state and large farming operations have been exploiting it for decades. This includes American and foreign-owned companies. Even if the state can stop foreign companies from abusing Arizona’s lax water laws, American mega-dairies and large-scale alfalfa farms will continue to pump the state’s aquifer water at alarming rates.
Power plant closures to bring water reallocation
Thousands of acre-feet of water from the Colorado River and state groundwater will no longer be used at Arizona coal plants after the four plants shut down by 2032, leaving resources to be redistributed among the states using the Colorado River basin.
Water, housing, abortion, teacher pay could be top issues for lawmakers
It's taken four decades, Saudi cows munching on alfalfa grown with Arizona water and national headlines about whether Arizona is finally drying up.
Homebuilders want changes to ease water law restrictions
Developers in the Phoenix area want lawmakers to alter 43-year-old laws that restrict construction in areas without adequate water supply.
Borrelli slams Griffin claiming she misrepresented his and Biasiucci’s water legislation
Upset with what he said are lies being told about his efforts to protect groundwater, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate is lashing out at a veteran House Republican who has for years bottled up various efforts to deal with the problem.
Fighting for rural Arizona, not for footnotes
The latest attempt to protect Arizona’s water resources does not reflect the long-term, collaborative, and courageous efforts that have been the bedrock of water policy in Arizona.
Land department cancels controversial lease of state land to company growing alfalfa
The state Land Department on Monday canceled one of the controversial leases of state land to a company that has been growing alfalfa for export to Saudi Arabia.
