Arizona ended abuse by a Saudi company that was overusing water in a severely drought-stricken state

While there is a struggle to care for and make efficient and sustainable use of Colorado River water, for nearly a decade in the state of Arizona a Saudi Arabian company had unlimited access to pump water for its alfalfa crops, while the state is drying up.

Recently Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs ended years of state land leases held by the Butler Valley-based Fondomonte Company.

The lax policies of the previous Arizona administration caused water from the Colorado River to the state of Arizona to go unprotected in the midst of a drought that is worsening due to climate change.

Hobbs, a Democrat, has said the state had canceled Fondomonte’s lease and said it would not renew three more leases.

Ylenia Aguilar, a member of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District’s Central Arizona Project Board of Directors, recognizes that it is a relevant problem and that is why the Democratic governor took action on behalf of the citizens.

Ylenia Aguilar, considers that they are lucky to have a governor who decided to put an end to the abuses of a company of Saudi origin.
She says that the company made an agreement with the previous governor and obtained the water almost for free, while the state is drying up.

Ylenia Aguilar, maintains that Arizona is taking action and is clear that its priority is the community that had been the most affected in the area where the alfalfa company was located.

The member of the Central Arizona Water Conservation Stewardship Council says that the state has learned its lesson and is now setting clear rules for companies coming to the state.

Ylenia says that there are proposed laws that seek to regulate, but she reminded that the governor has the power in terms of her policy to ensure that this does not happen again.

Ylenia Aguilar, adds that no one can live without water and this office and the state have the obligation to look after the interests of the people, mainly the most vulnerable population.

This dispatch is part of the series “Cuando se seca el arroyo”, partially supported by The Walton Family Foundation.