- The Willcox basin is overdrafting over 100,000 acre-feet of groundwater annually.
- Land subsidence has exceeded 11 feet in some areas, damaging roads and homes.
- ADWR’s revised goal aims to reduce overdraft by 50% by 2075.
- Earth fissures tied to groundwater depletion now span more than 50 miles.
- Stakeholders call for data, funding, and flexibility in implementing the plan.
Monday, April 14, 2025 — On April 8, Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) staff held a public meeting in Willcox to address the region’s groundwater overdraft—an unsustainable annual deficit that now exceeds 100,000 acre-feet. Residents were briefed on the depth of the crisis and given tools to participate in water rights documentation, as part of the ongoing rollout of the Willcox Active Management Area (AMA).
Following a failed voter initiative, ADWR officially designated the Willcox Groundwater Basin as the state’s seventh AMA last December. This is the first AMA ever formed by a direct decision of the ADWR Director under A.R.S. § 45-414. While the move has gained support from some local residents concerned about declining water levels and land subsidence, others in the region remain skeptical of additional government oversight.
The Willcox basin, an agriculturally rich area that depends entirely on groundwater, is now facing visible and worsening consequences of overuse. ADWR Water Resource Specialist Madison Moreno
explained that unlike other AMAs, Willcox lacks access to Colorado River water and renewable supply alternatives. “In Willcox, it’s a different story,” said Moreno. “The only meaningful option is to reduce demand.”
Ground Cracking Under Pressure.
ADWR’s data paints a grim picture: At least 71 wells have gone dry in the last decade. Land in parts of the basin has sunk more than 11 feet due to groundwater withdrawal, and the pace of this land subsidence is accelerating—from 1.2 inches per year in 1996 to 2.8 inches annually by 2023.
Perhaps most visibly alarming is the increase in earth fissuring—long surface cracks formed by subsiding land. Over 50 miles of fissures have been recorded in the Willcox area, threatening homes, roads, and other critical infrastructure.
A Revised Goal for a Strained Aquifer.
Every AMA must adopt a unique management goal. After feedback from local stakeholders, ADWR updated its draft objective for the Willcox AMA. The revised goal is “to support the long-term viability of the regional economy, mitigate land subsidence, and extend the life of the aquifer by reducing groundwater overdraft by at least 50 percent by 2075.”
This long-term target addresses what ADWR defines as “overdraft”—when groundwater pumping exceeds natural recharge levels. In the Willcox basin, that overdraft currently amounts to more than 100,000 acre-feet per year. To meet the new goal, the forthcoming Willcox AMA Management Plan is expected to include mandatory conservation rules, such as “volumetric groundwater withdrawal reductions,” along with other use limitations. “The hydrological challenges are going to be difficult,” acknowledged Moreno.
Calls for Support, Not Just Restrictions.
Community members who attended the meeting at the Willcox Community Center largely agreed with the need for change. Willcox farmer Tedd Haas noted, “We know this is going to be difficult. We appreciate ADWR’s work.”
Lisa Glenn, another area resident, emphasized the need for financial and technical support, not just strict mandates. “Putting our groundwater in a deficit of 110,000 acre-feet a year… this is not sustainable,” Glenn said. “We have no rivers, streams or lakes to replenish our aquifer. There must also be flexibility and funding. And to reduce our groundwater overdraft, we must have the data.”
What’s Next for Willcox.
In the months ahead, ADWR will continue to work with stakeholders to finalize the Willcox AMA Management Plan. That plan is expected to establish clear, enforceable standards for water conservation, with the overarching goal of extending the aquifer’s life and supporting the region’s agricultural base.
Applications for grandfathered groundwater rights are due by April 2026, and workshops will continue to support users in that process.
For now, Willcox stands at a turning point—one where tough conversations and bold decisions are becoming unavoidable.
Image of the Willcox AMA meeting via ADWR’s website.
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