Hobbs announces new groundwater protection effort in the Willcox basin

Arizona’s water agency announced Tuesday it has started the highly controversial process of creating a new groundwater protection area in the Willcox basin called an Active Management Area, or AMA.

The Willcox groundwater basin is one of the most critically depleted in the state and subject to no restrictions on pumping.

Hear Camryn Sanchez on The Show with host Mark Brodie

Listen • 5:45

Republicans and Democrats have spent many months trying to create a new kind of groundwater protection specific to rural areas as an alternative to AMAs — but a deal hasn’t come together.

Now, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is supporting the Arizona Department of Water Resources, known as ADWR, which is part of the executive branch, for taking action with the tools they have available.

The last time ADWR considered creating a new AMA unilaterally, there was huge blowback from legislative Republicans.

But Hobbs was firm in her statement on Tuesday.

“For too long, politicians have stuck their heads in the sand and refused to take action to fix the problems Arizonans face — I won’t,” Hobbs said. “I know protecting our water isn’t a Democratic or a Republican issue, it’s an Arizona issue. I will continue to put politics aside and work across the aisle to deliver the solutions Arizonans are desperate for.”

Hobbs traveled to Willcox in September and heard concerns from residents about the groundwater situation. She pledged then to take her own administrative action if an agreement couldn’t be reached with lawmakers.

Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes also faced criticism from Republicans when she hosted a series of townhalls in rural Arizona communities with shrinking groundwater basins. She also accused Republicans at the state Legislature of not doing enough to protect groundwater.

The statement Hobbs issued Tuesday included comments from Willcox basin residents.

“Today’s announcement by ADWR to initiate the AMA designation process gives me hope that we will finally have a secure water future here in the Willcox basin," homeowner Steve Kisiel is quoted as saying. “For too many years, legislative and executive inaction to protect rural groundwater in Arizona has led to severe consequences for myself and my neighbors, while today’s announcement is just the first step on our journey toward a better water future.”

ADWR announced the Notice of Initiation of Designation Procedures, which is the first step in creating an AMA. Next, there will be a public hearing on Nov. 22 at the Willcox Community Center.

Five AMAs were established through the 1980 groundwater management act. Since then, only Douglas residents have elected to create a new one. If ADWR goes forward, it will be the first time the agency has exercised its authority to create a new AMA in that manner.

Democratic lawmakers Sen. Priya Sundareshan (D-Tucson) and Rep. Christopher Mathis (D-Tucson) promptly issued their own statements Tuesday in support of ADWR’s action.

Sundareshan and Mathis are the ranking members of the Legislature’s natural resources committees, where water issues play out.

“I am confident that this is a step in the right direction given the tools for groundwater management currently available in Arizona,” Sundareshan said. “The Republican-led Legislature has dragged their feet for far too long, and I remain hopeful that that we can enact rural groundwater reform legislation next session.”

Republican Sen. Sine Kerr (R-Buckeye) criticized Hobbs for her decision in a statement on Tuesday afternoon, noting that Willcox voters rejected an AMA in a recent election. Kerr als accused Hobbs of not being willing to work with lawmakers.

"The Hobbs administration would rather take the easy path of big government action, against the will of voters, than do the real work of negotiating with the Legislature," Kerr wrote. "Her lack of leadership and lack of willingness to work with lawmakers in a bipartisan manner are on full display with this maneuver," she said.

Republican water policy specialists Rep. Gail Griffin (R-Hereford) and Rep. Tim Dunn (R-Yuma) did not immediately respond to requests for comment.