Grand Canyon Times

Senator Sine Kerr has introduced a new legislative proposal aimed at safeguarding Arizona's groundwater resources. The legislation, known as SB 1221, seeks to provide rural residents with additional tools for managing groundwater basins outside of active management areas. This initiative is the result of extensive discussions with water users across the state.

The proposed legislation allows citizens to initiate and manage groundwater basins through local petitions and actions by County Boards of Supervisors. It aims to cap new groundwater pumping in qualified basins experiencing accelerated declines while maintaining flexibility for growth and economic stability. A key feature of this proposal is its emphasis on voluntary conservation efforts.

The formation of a Basin Management Area encourages collaboration among all water users to improve basin health. If further management is desired, communities can upgrade their designation to an Active Basin Management Area through voter approval, allowing them to elect governing members.

Senator Kerr emphasized that the control and governance of these areas would remain with local citizens rather than being managed by the Executive Branch from Phoenix. "I know that farmers and ranchers, who are multi-generational land stewards of Arizona's resources, are all in on collaborative solutions to aquifer management that require their participation," she stated.

Kerr has spent several months engaging with various stakeholders including agricultural, municipal, industrial, and commercial voices throughout Arizona. She expressed her belief in the proposal as a product formed by rural Arizonans aiming to preserve both their local economies and groundwater health for future generations.

For more information about this legislation, interested parties can contact Kim Quintero, Director of Communications at the Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus.