State Representative Gail Griffin is pushing for increased groundwater recharge in Arizona's rural communities grappling with water shortages. Griffin, known for her legislative focus on natural resources, emphasized the potential of identified sites to develop recharge facilities in a statement released following her op-ed in the Sierra Vista Herald.
In an effort to boot local water supplies in regions like the Big Chino and Upper San Pedro, Griffin noted that only a small fraction of rainfall infiltrates deep enough to replenish groundwater basins. "In rural groundwater basins like the Big Chino and Upper San Pedro, only two to five percent of the rainwater that touches the ground actually infiltrates the soil deep enough to increase local groundwater supplies. The rest evaporates before it has a chance to recharge the aquifer," Griffin stated. Her advocacy points to a strategy aimed at leveraging the natural process of water filtration through the earth to augment existing water sources.
Arizona's Department of Water Resources and State Land Department, prompted by legislation in 2016 and 2021, have mapped out over 300 potential locations for groundwater recharge projects. These sites span statewide and could serve as a critical component in combating the region's water scarcity issues. A high-resolution map illustrating these sites has been made available and underscores the scale at which these initiatives have been conceived.
Griffin argues for a practical approach that utilizes these identified sites to their full potential. "Investing in new groundwater recharge projects represents a clear step in the right direction that can be taken to help increase the amount of water available to local communities," she said, advocating for developmental measures that align with local economic and employment interests. With an emphasis on collaboration, Griffin's stance is to pursue mutually beneficial solutions that secure water without imposing burdensome regulations on the rural populace.
Representing Legislative District 19, Griffin chairs the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee and also co-chairs the Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Study Committee on Water Security. Her efforts illustrate an ongoing commitment to address the water challenges that have become increasingly prevalent across Arizona's diverse landscapes.
