Contentious Battle Over Groundwater Usage in Arizona: Fondomonte vs. Mayes
The ongoing dispute over groundwater usage in Arizona has taken a new turn as Fondomonte, a Saudi-Arabian agricultural company, seeks to halt a legal battle initiated by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. The core of the disagreement revolves around Fondomonte’s groundwater extraction practices in the Ranegras Plain basin.
Attorney General Mayes filed a lawsuit against Fondomonte in 2024, invoking Arizona’s public nuisance law. The lawsuit claims that excessive groundwater pumping by the company has adversely affected the local community. In response, Fondomonte is urging a pause in the proceedings, citing recent groundwater protection measures.
Last year, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) established the Ranegras Plain as an Active Management Area, aiming to regulate groundwater usage. Fondomonte argues this development should suffice to address the lawsuit’s concerns.
During a recent court session, Fondomonte presented its case to Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Minder. The company contends that the ADWR’s actions could resolve the issues Mayes has raised, and a premature court ruling might conflict with ADWR’s regulatory framework.
The company plans to apply for grandfathered irrigated groundwater rights in the Ranegras Plain Basin, seeking to maintain its current groundwater usage levels. Fondomonte believes that ADWR is the correct authority to review and regulate their groundwater use.
However, Mayes’ legal team disagrees. They argue that ADWR’s role is limited to monitoring and maintaining current water usage levels, rather than imposing necessary restrictions on Fondomonte’s groundwater consumption.
An ADWR spokesperson mentioned that the department is “steering clear” of the litigation and chose not to provide further comments. The matter is now pending Judge Minder’s decision.
