Karrin Taylor Robson is aiming to replace Arizona's current approach to water management, arguing that Governor Katie Hobbs' statewide policies fail to address specific challenges communities are facing across the state.
Speaking at the Gila County Republican Committee, Robson criticized what she called a "very naïve approach" to handling Arizona's water crisis. Her primary concern is that Governor Hobbs attempts to apply the same rules everywhere, despite vastly different conditions across the state.
"Water is a regional issue. It's a local issue," Robson explained. She noted examples through St. Johns in Navajo County, which has abundant water, while Wilcox struggles with shortages. The two communities sit in different basins, with some areas relying on groundwater and others on surface water.
"The governor is trying to do is this one size fits all approach and it won’t work," she continued.
Robson argues that Arizona's Active Management Areas (AMAs), special water management zones, were explicitly designed for urban areas with surface water rights, particularly those served by the Central Arizona Project canal system.
However, most of Arizona's geography doesn't match this model, making statewide regulations problematic.
"The best decisions are made at the local level, followed by state and then federal government," Robson said, emphasizing what she explained to be her governing philosophy.
Water Depletion
A recent University of Arizona study found that human water pumping since the 1950s has dropped Tucson's water levels twice as much as 20,000 years of natural droughts combined.
Researchers discovered this by analyzing ancient groundwater and comparing historical water levels, revealing that humans have depleted groundwater faster over the past 70 years than nature did over millennia.
If elected governor, Robson promises to shift power back to local communities. Her plan includes investing in water reuse and storage facilities, eliminating bureaucratic obstacles, and supporting farmers who are already developing efficient water-use practices.
As Arizona faces growing water challenges backed by evidence, the debate over who should control water resources intensifies.
With research showing depletion of critical aquifers, candidates such as Robson argue that local communities are best positioned to manage their own water futures and implement solutions that fit each community.
