What a difference a year makes for Arizona water
With November marking the first anniversary of the major overhaul of the Water Infrastructure Authority of Arizona (WIFA) – the body now charged with securing new water supplies and conserving water for Arizona – it’s a good time to reflect on the challenges we’ve faced, the progress we’ve made, and WIFA’s future.
Californians bet farming agave for spirits holds key to weathering drought and groundwater limits
Leo Ortega started growing spiky blue agave plants on the arid hillsides around his Southern California home because his wife liked the way they looked. A decade later, his property is now dotted with thousands of what he and others hope is a promising new crop for the state following years of punishing drought in California, Arizona and other Western states, and a push to scale back on groundwate[...]
Travers pushing for exception to state laws that allow clergy to hide abuse confessed
A first-term Democratic lawmaker wants to enact an exception to state laws that allow clergy to refuse to disclose what was told to them in confession or similar confidential communication.
‘Scoping’ results show new Colorado River rules will face a range of demands
A new federal government report shows Colorado River states are aiming to agree on a plan to cut back on water but remain divided about how to share the shrinking supply among tens of millions across the Southwest.
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.
Water catchments across Arizona provide drinking water for wildlife
At the center of all life is water. But, for wildlife in the hot deserts of Arizona, finding it isn’t so easy. That’s where water catchments come in.
Farmer, rural lawmaker leave Governor’s Water Council
Two key members of the Governor's Water Policy Council have quit, potentially threatening the chances of any action to deal with a depleting water supply in rural Arizona.
Hobbs defends decision to strip Saudi company of right to lease land to farm alfalfa
Gov. Katie Hobbs on Tuesday defended the decision to strip a Saudi company of its right to lease state land to farm alfalfa for export -- and get the water underneath it free -- but had no answers to what will become of the nearly 3,500 acres after that.
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.
State’s largest pension fund selling interest in company that owns farm growing alfalfa
The state's largest public pension fund is selling off its interest in a company that owns a 3,000-acre western Arizona farm that grows alfalfa to ship to the Middle East.
Senators urged to step up after Supreme Court ruling on Navajo water rights
Crystalyne Curley told a U.S. Senate panel Wednesday that the Navajo Nation Council is 100 years old this year – and that the tribe’s fight for water access has been going on for at least that long. Curley, the speaker of the Navajo Council, made the comments at a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on the government’s trust obligations to ensure water access for tribes.