💧 Water Wednesdays - Blue Gold Rush: The Battle for Arizona's Dwindling Water Resources

🐄 Milking the Desert: Riverview's Massive Water Footprint 🌾 Saudi Alfalfa: Fondomonte's Controversial Crop

Aug 07, 2024

Two major players are at the heart of this controversy involving Arizona Water: Riverview LLP, a Minnesota-based dairy giant, and Fondomonte, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's largest dairy company, Almarai.

😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
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🌵🚰 Imagine Arizona as a giant sandbox where water is super precious! Some big companies from other places are coming in and taking lots of this water to grow food or raise cows. They're allowed to do this because there aren't enough rules about water use in some parts of Arizona. This is making people worried because if too much water is taken, there might not be enough left for everyone who lives there. People are asking the government to make new rules to protect the water so Arizona doesn't turn into a super dry place where nothing can grow! 🏜️💧

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💧 Blue Gold Rush: The Battle for Arizona's Dwindling Water Resources

A new type of gold rush is underway in Arizona's sun-scorched lands. But the treasure sought isn't precious metal—it's water. As the Southwest grapples with its worst drought in 1,200 years, out-of-state and foreign entities are tapping into Arizona's aquifers at an alarming rate, threatening the future of the Grand Canyon State.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has been vocal about the situation's urgency. In a recent press release, she stated, "For too long, our state leaders have been asleep at the wheel while this crisis has only grown. With new state leadership and the ever-increasing urgency of the issue, now is the time for the state government to get serious about regulating groundwater across Arizona and fulfill existing statutory duties so Arizona as we know it can continue to exist."

The state's water crisis has reached a critical point, with the Colorado River—a lifeline for the Southwest—at historically low levels.

👑 The Water Barons: Riverview and Fondomonte

Almarai signs five agreements with international companies

Two major players are at the heart of this controversy: Riverview LLP, a Minnesota-based dairy giant, and Fondomonte, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's largest dairy company, Almarai.

Since 2015, Riverview has rapidly expanded its operations in Arizona, purchasing nearly 51,000 acres in the Willcox and Douglas basins for over $180 million. The company has drilled about 80 wells in the Willcox Basin alone, many reaching depths of 1,000 feet or more. This aggressive expansion has had a devastating impact on local communities.

Fondomonte, meanwhile, has been operating on nearly 10,000 acres of land in La Paz County, growing alfalfa to ship back to Saudi Arabia as cattle feed.

This practice has stirred significant controversy, especially since growing alfalfa is banned in Saudi Arabia due to its high water requirements.

❓ Why Arizona?

The question on many Arizonans' minds is: Why here? The answer lies in the state's lax groundwater regulations in rural areas.

Kristine Uhlman, a retired University of Arizona hydrologist, explains, "The only reason the water tables are dropping is because more entities are pumping — because there are no rules. Too many entities have moved in to pump the free water. Take what you want; all you need is the money to drill a well, the deeper the better."

While pioneering for its time, Arizona's 1980 Groundwater Management Act left rural areas entirely unregulated. This legislative oversight has created a free-for-all situation in many parts of the state, allowing companies like Riverview and Fondomonte to pump water with virtually no restrictions.

💰 The Economic Argument

Defenders of these operations often point to their economic benefits.

As Arizona State Representative Tim Dunn says, "They are hiring local people, paying taxes, buying fuel, buying electricity. Whether it is a foreign-owned company or a private company, they are paying for products and services on these farms."

However, critics argue that these short-term economic gains come at an unsustainable long-term cost. The rapid depletion of groundwater resources threatens individual well owners and the long-term viability of Arizona's agricultural sector and rural communities.

🔔 A Call for Change

As the crisis deepens, calls for legislative action are growing louder.

Water policy expert Dan Schaefer offers a stark assessment: "Arizona and the rest of the stakeholders on the Colorado [River] have managed to kick the can down the road for 100 years, but the west has grown beyond the physical reality of the river. There's just not enough water anymore to support nonstrategic growth."

As Arizona stands at this critical juncture, the need for comprehensive water management has never been more urgent. The state must grapple with difficult questions about resource allocation, agricultural practices, and long-term sustainability. The actions taken now will determine whether Arizona can secure its water future or become a cautionary tale of resource mismanagement in the face of climate change and corporate exploitation.

The clock is ticking, and with each passing day, more of Arizona's precious "blue gold" disappears into the arid air. The battle for Arizona's water resources concerns the present and the future of life in the American Southwest.