Housing developers left stranded and stalled by a lack of an assured water supply are getting a lifeline under a deal cut between Republicans and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.  The proposal, known as “Ag-to-Urban,” allows homebuilders to buy water rights from farmers who retire their agricultural land if they promise to use only a certain percentage of the water to supply new developments. … The deal immediately affects only Maricopa and Pinal counties, but the Pima County Active Management Area may also fall under its guidance if a moratorium on new water certificates is put in place by state water regulators, (Sen. T.J.) Shope said. If all three areas were included, more than 400,000 acres of farmland could be eligible for conversion. … While big developers are celebrating a win, elected officials in rural Arizona are criticizing Hobbs for backing the proposal without tying it to new protections for groundwater in their areas. 

Other Arizona groundwater news:

• Arizona Senate Republicans: News release: Senate Republicans pass “ag-to-urban” bill to help Arizona families afford a home while saving water
• The Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Arizona Senate passes ag-to-urban bill that would let builders tap farmers’ water
• Courthouse News Service: Arizona developments face lawsuit over federally reserved groundwater
• Center for Biological Diversity: News release: Lawsuit challenges Arizona Water Agency’s faulty designations for 55 Fort Huachuca/Sierra Vista area subdivisions
• Havasu News (Ariz.): Kingman’s water supply remains in turmoil, according to new statistics