New Active Management Area for La Paz County aims to curb groundwater decline

Governor Katie Hobbs announced a new Active Management Area (AMA) for La Paz County in her 2026 State of the State address, a step designed to slow and mitigate falling groundwater levels in the Ranegras Plain Groundwater Basin. The Arizona Department of Water Resources had been discussing the proposal since October, and after public comment the agency director issued a final order designating the region as an AMA.

“During Hobbs’ address, she announced a new Active Management Area (AMA) for La Paz County, amid concerns about a shrinking Ranegras Plain Groundwater Basin... Designation of an active management area imposes a prohibition on the irrigation of new acres within the active management area, with certain limited exceptions, and creates monitoring and reporting requirements for most persons withdrawing groundwater from a non-exempt well within the area.”

The AMA designation immediately changes the regulatory landscape for irrigated agriculture, ranching operations, well owners and developers across the county. One of the most consequential limits is a prohibition on the irrigation of new acres inside the AMA boundary, with limited exceptions. In addition, monitoring and reporting requirements will apply to many groundwater withdrawals from non-exempt wells. Those measures aim to reduce unchecked pumping and preserve long-term water availability for the community.

Local landowners should expect outreach from state and county water officials in the coming weeks outlining compliance steps. The AMA process typically triggers new reporting obligations, installation or registration of monitoring equipment in some cases, and stricter review of proposals for water-dependent development within the boundary. For ranchers who rely on groundwater for livestock and for farmers with established irrigated acres, the rules do not automatically halt existing operations but do change the rules for expansion and new connections.

The designation responds to concerns about a shrinking aquifer beneath the Ranegras Plain and fits within broader statewide efforts to manage groundwater sustainably. For La Paz County, where many residents and businesses depend directly on wells, those statewide priorities translate into local paperwork, potential costs for metering or reporting, and a longer-term push to balance groundwater use with recharge.

Affected residents and operators should consult ADWR rule documents and county offices for specific compliance steps and timelines. County staff will be the first point of contact for zoning and permitting questions, and the ADWR materials describe which withdrawals are considered non-exempt and what monitoring is required.

The takeaway? Treat this as a heads-up from your water regulators, not a sudden shutdown. Start by checking the status of your well, reviewing whether your use falls under non-exempt rules, and planning for possible monitoring or reporting. Our two cents? Get in touch with county water officials early, attend any ADWR outreach meetings, and consider water-conserving changes now so your operation can keep pumping when the rules settle in.