Gail Griffin (R-Ariz.) | Official U.S. House headshot
Gail Griffin (R-Ariz.) | Official U.S. House headshot
State Representative Gail Griffin has expressed concerns about the Arizona Department of Water Resources' assessment of rural groundwater basins. She highlighted the lack of comprehensive data on water levels, which she believes hampers informed decision-making on groundwater policy.
"In 1989, there were 45.3 million acre-feet available in the Willcox basin to a depth of 1,200 feet," Griffin said. However, she noted that current assessments only measure to an average well depth of 409 feet. This discrepancy raises questions about the actual amount of water remaining underground.
Griffin cited a Supply and Demand Assessment indicating that 3.59 million acre-feet have been withdrawn from the Willcox Basin since 1990, suggesting approximately 41.7 million acre-feet remain. "That means there should still be approximately 41.7 million acre-feet of water remaining in the Willcox Basin today," she said.
To address these issues, Griffin mentioned several legislative measures aimed at supporting domestic wells and increasing local control over groundwater resources. Bills such as HB2084, HB2086, and HB2274 focus on water hauling solutions for private well owners, while HB2572 and HB2727 aim to enhance local governance.
Additionally, Griffin pointed out initiatives like HB2638, SB1448, and SB1518 that provide farmers with more flexibility in water usage and crop selection. Other bills focus on stormwater recharge to counteract drought effects.
"Are groundwater levels decreasing in certain basins? Yes," Griffin acknowledged but emphasized the need for accurate data to develop effective tools for stabilization and recharge efforts.
She criticized the Department's characterization of some basins as "critical" without complete information and advocated for adopting HB2271 to ensure detailed data is included in future assessments.
Governor Hobbs recently allocated $5.5 million for hydrogeologic studies to build groundwater models, a move Griffin sees as supportive of her legislative goals. "We are hopeful the Governor will support HB2271," she concluded.
Gail Griffin represents Legislative District 19 in Arizona's House of Representatives and chairs the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee.
Information from this article can be found here.
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