- The Arizona Department of Water Resources began formal steps toward an Active Management Area.
- Governor Katie Hobbs and La Paz County officials voiced support for stronger groundwater protections.
- The proposed AMA would restrict new irrigation and require well monitoring.
- A public hearing is scheduled for December 18, 2025, in Salome.
- The proposal follows years of concern over heavy pumping by out-of-state corporations.
Thursday, November 6, 2025 –– The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) initiated procedures on October 27 to consider designating the Ranegras Plain Groundwater Basin
, which spans portions of La Paz and Yuma Counties in the western part of the state, as an Active Management Area (AMA) under Section 45-412 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. The decision follows public comment and a technical memorandum prepared by the Department’s Chief Hydrologist describing the basin’s declining groundwater conditions.
Public notice of the action was published November 5 and will run again November 11 in the Parker Pioneer and Yuma Sun. A formal public hearing is set for Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 4 p.m. at the Desert Gold RV Park in Salome. Members of the public may attend in person or virtually to submit oral or written comments in support of or in opposition to the proposal.
Temporary Limits on New Irrigation.
Effective November 5, 2025, irrigation is restricted to lands within the proposed area that were previously irrigated during any five-year period leading up to this date. This limitation will remain until the Director issues a final determination on the proposed AMA. Under Arizona law, “irrigate” means applying water to two or more acres to produce plants for sale or consumption or to feed livestock and poultry.
If approved, an AMA designation would formally prohibit the irrigation of new acres and require most groundwater users to report and monitor withdrawals from non-exempt wells. Such rules are intended to slow aquifer depletion and address related issues such as land subsidence and water-quality decline.
Governor Hobbs and Local Leaders Voice Support.
Governor Katie Hobbs praised the Department’s action, calling it “long overdue protection for La Paz County residents from groundwater overpumping.” Hobbs noted that when she visited the region earlier this year, she heard firsthand from residents and business owners affected by unrestricted pumping from out-of-state corporations.
“It is unacceptable that for decades legislators have refused to protect rural communities and their cries for help have gone unheard,” Hobbs said. “It’s time to put Arizonans first and protect our water from corporate interests profiting at our expense.”
La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin, who has advocated for basin protections for more than a decade, thanked the Governor and ADWR for taking action after years of legislative inaction. Local rancher Boyce Andersen and Pastor Carroll E. Miles also welcomed the move, recalling dried wells and loss of community water supplies linked to industrial-scale pumping.
According to ADWR, groundwater outflows in the Ranegras Plain Basin exceed natural replenishment by about 900 percent, making it among Arizona’s most overdrawn areas. Governor Hobbs has stated that protecting rural aquifers remains a priority for her administration.
December Public Hearing and Comments.
The December 18 hearing will allow residents, business owners, and stakeholders to offer input on whether an AMA designation is warranted. Written comments not delivered at the hearing must arrive by 5 p.m. on December 19, 2025, by mail or hand delivery, or electronically by midnight on the same date. After reviewing all comments and evidence, the Director will determine whether to formally designate the Ranegras Plain Groundwater Basin as an Active Management Area. More information: https://www.azwater.gov/proposed-ranegras-plain-groundwater-basin-ama
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Active Management Area (AMA)?
An AMA is a region designated by the Arizona Department of Water Resources for special management of groundwater use. Within an AMA, new irrigation is generally prohibited and well owners must measure and report withdrawals. The goal is to slow depletion of underground aquifers and protect future supplies.
Why is the Ranegras Plain Basin under consideration?
ADWR data show that groundwater is being pumped far faster than it is replenished, by roughly 900 percent. Residents and officials have reported dried wells and subsidence, prompting a request for state intervention.
What happens after the hearing?
Following the December 18 hearing and comment period, ADWR’s Director will decide whether to establish the Ranegras Plain Active Management Area. If designated, the rules and reporting requirements would take effect under state law.
Who can participate in the hearing?
Any person may attend in person or virtually to provide oral or written testimony. Accommodations for disabilities are available upon advance request to the Department.
How would an AMA affect existing groundwater users?
Those already irrigating within the proposed area can continue on previously irrigated acres, but expansion to new lands would not be allowed until a final determination is made. Most well owners must track and report water withdrawals to the state.
