Arizona’s Water Fight Is Getting Closer to Home in Cochise County

The other day, I asked our followers on social media what they think is heading Cochise County in the wrong direction. Two days later, people are still adding passionate answers. A large number of the responses concerned large corporate farming operations that place a heavy burden on our groundwater, especially in the Willcox basin.

The Willcox Basin in Cochise County has experienced some of Arizona's most severe groundwater declines due to agricultural pumping. Foreign concerns, according to FarmlandGrab.org, like large Saudi Arabian companies growing alfalfa across our state, are placing a heavy burden on our precious groundwater, but they’re not the only ones.

A bird house in the middle of a field

Large-scale farming operations and the overall amount of groundwater being pumped are beginning to have alarming consequences. Arizona recently strengthened groundwater protections around the Willcox area in response to those concerns.

While much of the attention has focused on western Arizona, the conversation is gaining traction in Cochise County, where groundwater is the lifeblood of many rural communities.

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Why Arizona's Rural Groundwater Is Under Threat

We hear a lot about the Central Arizona Project, or CAP. CAP is a massive canal system that brings Colorado River water from Lake Havasu to central and southern Arizona, stretching about 336 miles. The system delivers water to Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties, where more than 80% of Arizona's population lives, according to CAP Arizona. In many Arizona communities, CAP water is a major source of drinking water.

Industrial grain silos with trucks under a blue sky

If you live in a more rural area of Arizona, however, you likely rely on groundwater. Most rural communities depend heavily on local aquifers. We’ve been very lucky. The groundwater was abundant. Used wisely, it would be a reliable source of water for generations.

READ MORE: What Water Life Looked Like In Arizona Over 100 Years Ago

Rethinking Arizona’s Groundwater Laws

For decades, Arizona's groundwater laws allowed landowners in some areas to pump water with few restrictions. This is creating growing concern about how long the increased burden can continue to support water for rural areas.

Cochise County’s biggest challenge is the Willcox Basin, an area that has experienced significant aquifer declines when large agricultural operations have pumped out water faster than the aquifer can recharge.

a tractor in a field

This prompted Arizona officials to establish even more groundwater protections in the area. State leaders agreed, saying the action was necessary to protect local water supplies.

READ: How Arizona's Water Scarcity Shapes Growth

brown cow and calf on brown field during daytime

A Problem Without Easy Answers

Agriculture is an important part of Arizona’s economy, so there are no easy answers to this question. For Cochise County, the challenge is balancing agriculture, economic growth, and water security. It's a developing problem that will require difficult decisions and local input to make sure we grow smartly.