By Kiera Riley | Arizona Capitol Times
Key Points:
- Public nuisance lawsuit at crossroads on attorney general’s authority to sue
- Litigation stands to impact potential state regulation of basin
- Outcome could impact extent of oversight on agricultural water use
As the attorney general continues to assert authority to sue alfalfa farm Fondomonte Arizona for excessive groundwater pumping under the state’s public nuisance law, a La Paz County supervisor is urging greater groundwater protections in the same basin through state regulation.
Although at early stages, the ongoing lawsuit and any eventual active management area (AMA) could intersect and ultimately impact Fondomonte’s groundwater stake in the Ranegras Plain Basin.
“Something at some point has to give, because we can’t keep going at the rate that we’re going,” La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin said.
