Arizona announces settlement over dairy's groundwater

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(The Center Square) – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced a major settlement involving groundwater usage.

Speaking Thursday afternoon in Cochise County, Mayes said the deal between Arizona and Riverview LLP will reduce the dairy’s groundwater usage and deliver $11 million for well-drilling, water hauling and groundwater access.

“In 2024, I stood here in this room filled with members of this community and heard countless stories of wells that had gone dry, roads and even houses that were damaged by land subsidence, and fears that without intervention, things would get worse and worse,” the Democratic attorney general told reporters at a community center in Pearce.

Land subsidence is the sinking or collapsing of surface land due to the removal of things such as underground water, oil or gas.

“Longtime residents told me that they were afraid that without intervention, they would not be able to stay in the communities they loved if groundwater supplies continued to be depleted,” said Mayes. “Retirees who had spent their life savings to buy property to live in this quiet and beautiful part of our state worried that their investments were at risk and did not know what they would do if they no longer could access water supplies.”

In the two legislative sessions since that town hall meeting, Mayes said there has been no action by lawmakers to address these concerns. However, the attorney general’s office said it has been busy trying to address the problem with the tools Mayes has available.

“Last year, I sued Fondomonte in La Paz County for their actions that we allege have created a public nuisance for communities in western Arizona, and for the past year and a half, we have been investigating the actions of Riverview here in Cochise County,” said Mayes. “But unlike Fondomonte, Riverview and its owners have engaged with us over the past year to attempt to come to a compromise that will help the residents here near the dairy and surrounding areas.”

The $11 million in funding will be split between two funds to help ensure continued access to potable water for residents. Potable water is safe for humans to drink or use for cooking. 

As part of the settlement, Riverview has agreed to fallow 2,000 acres of farmland in the Sulphur Springs Valley to reduce groundwater usage and conserve more water for the future, Mayes said.

“As they fallow the lands, they will have strict reporting requirements to the attorney general’s office,” said Mayes.