Northern Gila County residents urge supervisors to join rural groundwater working group, flag SB1425 risks

Residents from northern Gila County urged the Board of Supervisors to engage with a statewide rural groundwater working group and to consider local protections after outlining concerns about pending legislation and the governor's stated plans for a "Rural Groundwater Management" approach.

Chris Ray, introduced as a resident and the first speaker, told the board that state authority over groundwater is broad and that recent moves — including an administration reference to a rural-groundwater act and the governor's use of executive orders — mean state-level decisions could affect local wells. "We... have to consider what Arizona State and our policies will actually do and might impact national security," Ray said, noting the state's interest in water for advanced manufacturing projects and other infrastructure.

Carolyn Epler, another resident presenter, identified…