Arizona’s water crisis is increasingly dire, with demand outstripping supply due to population growth, agricultural use, and climate change. Unlike Indigenous societies that relied on sustainable water practices, modern society depends on “borrowed” water from reservoirs, rivers, and underground aquifers, which are being depleted at an alarming rate.
The state classifies water as either surface water (streams, rivers, and lakes) or groundwater. Surface water rights follow a seniority system, but groundwater usage remains largely unregulated, except in designated Active Management Areas (AMAs). In areas that lack an AMA, like the Verde Valley, landowners can pump unlimited groundwater as long as it is for a “beneficial” use—a vaguely defined concept. This has allowed large-scale international farms to extract millions of gallons for water-intensive crops and led to declining water tables and dry wells across rural Arizona.
Adding to the strain, Arizona’s share of Colorado River water has been reduced, and perennial rivers, including the Verde River, are seeing decreased flow. Despite these alarming trends, population growth continues unchecked. Developers are proposing large-scale residential projects, further straining water resources. The state’s legislature has resisted attempts to regulate groundwater usage in rural areas by authorizing the creation of Rural Management Areas, leaving local governments powerless to manage water effectively.
This unregulated environment has significant implications for both small farmers and local residents, who rely on groundwater for daily needs. Over-extraction not only threatens the region’s long-term water supply but also worsens the impacts of climate change and prolonged drought conditions.
KSB advocates for sustainable water management. We ask residents to demand accountability from local and state officials, urging them to implement fair groundwater limits, enact land use laws prioritizing water conservation, and promote growth that aligns with the region’s long-term water capacity. KSB stresses the importance of integrating water management into land-use and development planning to protect the Verde Valley’s natural resources and communities.
We urge residents to make water conservation a priority in your political decisions and to voice your concerns to officials at all levels of government. THIS LINK provides you contact information for our elected officials.