For the second time in two months, a Superior Court judge has blocked separate efforts by the Arizona Department of Water Resources to limit groundwater pumping in the rapidly growing Phoenix area. On Tuesday, Judge Scott Blaney of Maricopa County tossed out a rule that established an ADWR program allowing cities and other water providers to approve new development in areas the state believes are short of groundwater if they replace 25% of the groundwater they use with an alternative water supply. This follows Blaney’s April ruling that overturned ADWR’s 2023 decision to stop allowing new homes to be built in much of the Phoenix area that rely on groundwater. In both cases, Blaney ruled that the state agency exceeded its legal authority, as spelled out in the 1980 Groundwater Management Act and subsequent regulations.

Other groundwater news around the West:

• ABC15 (Phoenix): Judge sides with developers challenging Arizona groundwater regulations
• Arizona Capitol Times (Phoenix): Water rule washed out: Judge voids state agency’s water demands for developers
• SJV Water (Bakersfield, Calif.): Hanford-area groundwater agency adds two workshops, one Spanish-language
• The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.): Opinion: For reds or whites, red tape is a costly burden
• Maven’s Notebook: Blog: Chino Basin Program update highlights progress, costs, and public benefit