FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 23, 2024
PHOENIX – Senator Priya Sundareshan and Representative Christopher Mathis released the following statements in response to Governor Hobbs’ announcement today that the Arizona Department of Water Resources is taking steps toward declaring an Active Management Area in the Willcox Basin to address severe and worsening groundwater depletion in the region. Sundareshan and Mathis are the ranking Democratic members of the Senate and House Natural Resources Energy and Water committees.
Rep. Mathis: "This is a critically important and well-considered step by ADWR to protect the Willcox Basin and help ensure rural Arizona’s water future. I applaud Governor Hobbs’ ongoing commitment to our state’s water security and look forward to continuing to work toward groundwater management reform legislation that will provide rural areas with additional statutory tools to preserve Arizona’s precious water resources."
Sen. Sundareshan: “Arizonans are suffering under years of Republican refusal to bring our water laws into the 21st century. The Willcox Basin is one of three most dangerously jeopardized in Arizona. I celebrate ADWR’s action here and believe rural Arizonans deserve sound water management and protective actions based on data. I am confident that this is a step in the right direction given the tools for groundwater management currently available in Arizona. The Republican-led legislature has dragged their feet for far too long, and I remain hopeful that that we can enact rural groundwater reform legislation next session.”
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