Water use and management of the resource have been key issues in Arizona since statehood.
When the population exploded after World War II and tens of thousands of new residents settled in mostly desert areas, the stakes were raised even higher. By the 70s, cities and mines were concerned about a state Supreme Court ruling on groundwater use. That led to the legislature forming a 25-member groundwater commission. In 1980, a bipartisan effort featuring Governor Bruce Babbitt and House Majority Leader Burton Barr led to Babbitt signing the Groundwater Management Act.
The Act retains its significance 35 years later, and a new documentary on the subject has been made. Director of the documentary, Michael Schiffer, and Kathleen Ferris, executive director of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, talked about the issue.
