The future of Arizona poses two dueling scenarios for the state’s water resources.
On one end, Native American communities like the Gila River Indian Community will hold 2 million acre-feet of secure water rights and will have built impressive desert economies and elevated to the top tier of policy influence and economic wealth.
Small arid communities like Rio Verde Foothills, on the other hand, will run out of water. Arizona’s rural regions will be only a scorched landscape of expanding desert and empty towns, where farmers and residents once lived in more hospitable conditions.
Responses to the state’s burgeoning water crisis by state leaders have been methodical but by no means urgent.
There’s a reason for that. Regulatory changes in water policy and practice are some of the steepest cliffs in Arizona’s political landscape. Any proposal judged by lawmakers to challenge property rights, raise costs, and impede growth is dead on arrival in the Legislature. Such proposals generate powerful winds of opposition in the executive offices of home builders, chambers of commerce, and every other economic development agency.

Two countries, eight states, five lakes — and 84 percent of the continent’s surface fresh water. As water crises beset North America, all eyes are on the Great Lakes and the leaders, systems, and rules that govern them. Let Circle of Blue reporters guide you through the biggest international, state, and local policy news stories facing the Great Lakes region today. Sign up today for Fresh: A Great Lakes Policy Briefing, straight to your inbox, every other Tuesday.

What’s Up With Water — March 29, 2022
For the news you need to start the week, tune into “What’s Up With Water” fresh on Monday’s on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, and SoundCloud.

Featured coverage from this week's episode of What's Up With Water looks at:

The Biggest Dry: Arizona