Thank Governor Hobbs and the Arizona Legislators Trying to Protect Rural Groundwater

 

Rep. Chris Mathis, Sen. Priya Sundareshan, Mohave County Supervisor Travis Lingenfelter, Gov. Katie Hobbs, Wilcox Mayor Greg Hancock, Prescott Mayor Phil Goode

Currently at the state legislature, there are many bills that weaken our already lax water laws - many sponsored by Rep. Gail Griffin who is also a realtor profiting from development. In previous years we fought her bills weakening the 100 year water supply which would have depleted the San Pedro (our last perennial flowing river in Southern AZ). Last year (and again this year) she fought to weaken Douglas and Willcox's new Active Management Area status. The overpumping in Willcox from too much development and industrial farming has emptied their aquifer, causing sink holes.

Sink hole in Willcox area

On the bright side, the Governor and some Democratic legislators are working to protect rural groundwater.

"At the end of January, my seatmate Rep. Chris Mathis and I joined Gov. Hobbs and many Republican elected officials from rural Arizona to call on the Legislature to pass rural groundwater protections, which we introduced as mirror bills SB1425 and HB2714. These are truly bipartisan measures -- and we hope this year we will finally protect rural groundwater."

"I've also introduced many other bills. There are only 2 weeks remaining to get committee hearings for any of them - let's see if the Republican committee chairs schedule any of mine."

— AZ Sen. Priya Sundareshan (@priya4az) January 30, 2025 Please, consider thanking our Rep. Chris Mathis, Sen. Priya Sundareshan and Gov. Hobbs for protecting rural groundwater. We are all connected - just like our water systems.

Sen. Priya Sundareshan (Minority Leader) district 18, Dem, PSUNDARESHAN@azleg.gov (602) 926-3437

Rep. Christopher Mathis district 18, Dem, CMATHIS@azleg.gov, (602) 926-3138

Gov. Katie Hobbs, https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/form/contact-governor-hobbs, (602) 542-4331.

You can also ask Rep. Gail Griffin to hear the bill in the Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee that she chairs. As mentioned above, she is working against sound water protections. But why make it easy for her?

Rep. Gail Griffin, District 19, Rep. Email: GGRIFFIN@azleg.gov (602) 926-5895

Maybe there's a better chance with Sen. Thomas "T.J." Shope who chairs the Natural Resources Committee:

Sen. Thomas "T.J." Shope, district 16, Rep. TSHOPE@azleg.gov (602) 926-3012

More information here:

https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/02/06/democrats-groundwater-proposal-still-awaits-committee-hearing/