… Arizonans across the state are facing rapidly declining groundwater. Many officials, lawmakers, residents, and conservation advocates say stemming the loss is urgent for communities—and wildlife, too. In 2025, the Arizona Department of Water Resources took an unprecedented step to declare the Willcox groundwater basin a new “active management area” (AMA) under the 1980 water law. The designation requires that large groundwater consumers in (some parts) of Arizona report their use, prohibits drilling large new wells and the expansion of irrigated farmland, and sets goals to cut withdrawals over time. Many now want to see that momentum spread statewide. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers recently introduced bills that would end Arizona’s era of unlimited groundwater extraction. 

Other groundwater news:

• Monterey Herald (Calif.): Water agencies join forces to combat overdrafting Salinas Valley groundwater