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Giant Dairy Seeks Arizona Water Rights
21 Jul
Summary
- Dairy seeks grandfathered water rights on tens of thousands of acres.
- Riverview used 83,856 acre-feet of groundwater in 2023.
- Company settles for $11 million over public nuisance water issues.
Riverview LLP, a significant dairy operation in Arizona, is pursuing grandfathered water rights for approximately 22,130 acres in the Willcox groundwater basin. The company utilized 83,856 acre-feet of groundwater in 2023 to grow various crops, representing a substantial portion of the region's agricultural water use. This action comes as Arizona establishes new management guidelines for groundwater, particularly in areas experiencing hydrological stress and land subsidence.
The Willcox basin recently transitioned to an Active Management Area (AMA), imposing new reporting requirements for high-capacity wells. Riverview's application for irrigation grandfathered rights is part of a process requiring landowners to demonstrate prior irrigation or substantial investment to continue using groundwater for farming. The state water agency will determine Riverview's final water allotment based on crop history and conservation goals.
Riverview has also faced scrutiny for its extensive well drilling, with many wells significantly deeper than the basin average. In response to a public nuisance investigation, the company settled for $11 million, funds designated for water access projects benefiting neighbors impacted by overpumping. Riverview has committed to voluntary reductions, including taking land out of production and importing feed, and has pledged to remove 2,000 acres from production by 2038.
