State Representative Gail Griffin has voiced concerns over the current understanding of the state's rural groundwater basins. In a statement released on March 17, Griffin, the chairman of the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee, pointed out the lack of comprehensive data on the Willcox basin's water reserves beyond the "average" well depth of 409 feet. Griffin argues that to properly address the water policy, lawmakers need to know exactly how much water resides beneath the surface.
Back in 1989, the Willcox basin boasted 45.3 million acre-feet of water down to a depth of 1,200 feet, an amount Griffin compares to one-and-a-half Lake Meads or two Lake Powells. With withdrawals since 1990 totaling 3.59 million acre-feet, Griffin calculates there should theoretically remain around 41.7 million acre-feet, which she suggests should adequately supply the region for another 383 years at the current rate of decline. However, the Arizona Department of Water Resources has yet to confirm these figures. The representative has expressed the need to more accurately quantify the water “there is,” to be able to effectively manage it, saying Arizonans "deserve to know how much water they have before politicians start making decisions about their future," a statement obtaine by the Arizona State Legislature.
She cited several bills aimed at immediate remedies for domestic wells through water hauling and legislation designed to give local areas increased control over their groundwater resources. Other bills such as HB2202 through HB2638 and SB1448 through SB1518 provide agricultural flexibility to save water and enable more efficient water utilization. In addition, measures like HCM2003, HB2087, and HB2207 focus on stormwater recharge, aiming to bolster groundwater replenishment.
While acknowledging the challenges faced by decreased groundwater levels, Griffin emphasized the need to "stop the bleeding” and stabilize the aquifers. She believes adopting HB2271 is a critical step, as it would require the Arizona Department of Water Resources to include total groundwater volume information in their Supply and Demand Assessments. Governor Hobbs has shown support for understanding Arizona's water resources by announcing a $5.5 million investment for hydrogeologic studies, a move Griffin hopes will result in backing for HB2271 and more informed decision-making. "Rural residents have a lot to hope for with HB2271," Griffin stated, emphasizing the urgency of gaining a full view of the water resources available to Arizona State Legislature.
