Arizona Mega-Dairy Agrees to Reduce Groundwater Usage in Landmark Settlement
The Arizona Attorney General's Office has announced a significant agreement with Riverview Dairy, a mega-dairy operation in Cochise County, Arizona. This settlement comes after an investigation into the dairy's impact on local groundwater resources. The dairy has agreed to reduce its water consumption and allocate $11 million towards enhancing the water infrastructure in the surrounding community.
The settlement includes the creation of two funds aimed at improving water accessibility for residents. Half of the funds will be directed to the Sulphur Springs Water Fund, benefiting those living outside a 1.6-mile radius from the dairy's irrigation wells. This fund will facilitate well replacement, tank system installations, and water hauling services.
The second fund, managed by Riverview Dairy, will focus on constructing new wells and expanding existing community water systems near the dairy. Riverview has committed to maintaining these initiatives over the next 20 years, with regular reporting to the attorney general.
As part of the agreement, Riverview will also leave 2,000 acres of farmland uncultivated, thereby reducing water usage. The office of Attorney General Kris Mayes estimates that the settlement will conserve over 100,000 acre-feet of groundwater over the next 14 years, potentially benefiting hundreds of families in the area.
This deal is a response to the declining groundwater levels in Cochise County, with specific concerns surrounding the Douglas and Willcox aquifers. Recent measures, such as establishing Active Management Areas (AMAs), have been implemented to address these issues, but the dairy's agreement is expected to have a more immediate impact.
Attorney General Mayes has expressed a desire to see similar agreements reached with other large agricultural users to further protect Arizona's groundwater resources. Despite mixed reactions from the public, the settlement is seen as a step towards addressing the ongoing water scarcity challenges in the region.
