Running dry: Lax AZ groundwater laws threaten rural groundwater supply

One of the last preserved stretches of Historic Route 66 winds through downtown Kingman. Formed in the 1880s, the former railroad town sits in the farthest corner of northwest Arizona that you can get before reaching the Nevada border.

[KennethGreenCMP]

Whats the problem? The people they voted in office and don't want to do anything about it. When the town runs dry you know they will still vote for the same folks. Congrats!

[buggyridge]

25 years too late folks. I worked on this problem in the late 1990's with USDA and it was almost too late then.

[bonnieinla]

WOW. I went to college for watershed management (work in a different field now). This is unbelievably short-sighted! Groundwater aquifers don't recover past a certain point. And I'm assuming tax payers will be on the hook for crop insurance when these crops fail? What in the world is Arizona doing?!

[steven]

Everybody wants small government till they have a problem, then they want big government.

[sierrawander]

Been hearing about this for years.
No one did anything.
And now everybody's going to cry the big tears

[artisticdriver]

Unless we start desalinization of ocean water, we better figure out something to regulate the fresh water. The desert should not be farmland. Solar and Wind fields are the only resources that make sense in a desert. If we focus on OUR environment, instead of who is what color, sex, religion… maybe we can actually find solutions to help all of the above!🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[dm]

The crazy just makes your head want to explode. They elect representatives and governors who preach small government then are shocked when that is what they get.

[basedoz]

For perspective on just how much 34k acre-feet of water is, our “brilliant” governor wants to build a desalination plant which typically goes for at least $1 Billion for roughly 50k acre-feet of water per year. That’s 1/4 of the cost of the Central Arizona Project canals so that these agriculture corporations can drain our ground water lol. We are screwed.

[James_Cy]

Arizona is in for some serious trouble in the coming years. The funniest part is the golf courses and the farms, they use incredible amounts of water.
But you know who will have the strictest restrictions on water use? That's right, the residents.

[casienwhey]

Arizona treats water the way the federal government treats money, use it up as much as you want as if there is no limit and no consequences.

[jcee]

I got out before law changes led to this present circumstance.
And out of NM after the Gulf of Mexico was pulled under
where pumps were pulling up freshwater. Turning brackish.
Salt began to emerge on field soil after sunlight evaporated
pump sourced fossil water. Rome once salted soil around
an African city to ensure no crops would feed a Roman enemy.

[TouchingClothProd]

Massive farms in a desert. What could possibly go wrong?

[robertodebeers]

Rich agriculture, supported by out of state big money, vrs private people. Which is the Republican Party going to support?

[johneynon]

Meanwhile here in Prescott, Az., there is no let up on massive housing growth. It's all about the green backs. Better sell your over priced homes NOW sheeple.

[johnauner]

Same problems in Missouri. Billionaires and millionaires watering their whole farms, filling lakes and even "rivers" with well water.

[johnalver]

3:11 well when it all collapses at least she can sleep with the clear conscience, because she is trying do something about the growing problem, but of course the companies and the politicians that get payments from the companies would oppose legislation that regulates a commodity from free to priced

[float_sam]

Cities gone in 10 years... no two ways about it

[Lotsielots]

Are they stupid? How can you have no regulation of ground water well use for agriculture. In the UK farmers have to apply for licences to pump a certain level of water over a set time. Its obvious.

[Mdebacle]

Did she say, "Doing nothing is not an option ?"
Doing nothing is most certainly an option.

[Pookiefree]

Living in Colorado we no longer get enough snow or monsoons to get enough water for agriculture.
The drought here is affecting what NM, AZ and CA will receive downstream.