Arizona Moves to Regulate Groundwater in Willcox Basin Amid Severe Depletion

Governor Hobbs and the Arizona Department of Water Resources propose an Active Management Area to address critical groundwater issues in southeastern Arizona.

• Arizona's Department of Water Resources has initiated the process to designate the Willcox Basin as an Active Management Area, the state's strictest groundwater regulation.
• The proposed regulation aims to address severe groundwater depletion, where extraction rates are nearly triple the replenishment rate, causing significant land subsidence and dry wells.
• A temporary prohibition on new agricultural irrigation in the Willcox Basin has been enacted until a decision is made on the AMA designation.
• The move follows Governor Katie Hobbs' visit to the area, where she emphasized the urgent need for action and bipartisan solutions to protect water resources.
• A public hearing is scheduled for November 22 to gather community input, with a final decision on the AMA expected within 30 days after the hearing.

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