An image of Arizona with abstracted groundwater network.

ASU initiative connects rural Arizona communities to strengthen groundwater resilience

Statewide exchange builds network to share solutions for local groundwater challenges

Faith Kearns

April 28, 2026

Across rural Arizona, many communities are confronting a shared reality: groundwater levels are declining and local leaders are often left to navigate complex challenges with limited resources.

From agricultural regions in Cochise County to fast-growing communities in Yavapai County to policy-shifting groundwater basins in La Paz County, water managers and community groups are working to secure their water future, but they are often working in isolation.

A new statewide initiative aims to change that.

The Rural Groundwater Resilience Exchange (RGRx), launched by the Arizona Cross-Watershed Network in partnership with Arizona State University’s Impact Water – Arizona, brings together rural leaders, water experts, agency staff and community organizations to strengthen groundwater resilience through shared knowledge and collaboration.

More than 30 participants joined the February kickoff of the RGRx, representing key members from rural groundwater alliances in basins across the state and signaling growing momentum for coordinated, community-driven water solutions.

Building on momentum

The RGRx builds on a series of Rural Groundwater Resilience Workshops led by Impact Water – Arizona, a pillar of the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative, a statewide project from ASU’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory in collaboration with the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, which helped catalyze new alliances and collaboration in rural communities.

“The workshops showed us that rural communities are ready to act. They just need the tools and connections to do it,” said Susan Craig, director of Impact Water – Arizona. “The Exchange is about sustaining momentum, increasing visibility for rural groundwater priorities and turning that energy into long-term impact."

“There’s a real sense that the timing is right,” added Brian Manwaring of Southwest Decision Resources, who facilitated the kickoff and supports the Arizona Cross-Watershed Network. “Communities are already taking action. This is about helping them stay connected and build on that progress.”

Shared challenges, statewide perspectives

Participants emphasized that while each basin has unique conditions, many challenges and solutions are shared statewide.

In Yavapai County's Camp Verde, rapid growth is increasing water demand and raising concerns about groundwater recharge. In Cochise County’s Willcox and Douglas basins, communities are working to stabilize aquifers while maintaining agricultural livelihoods. In La Paz County, stakeholders are navigating evolving groundwater policy and water transport pressures.

Other regions highlighted different but related challenges.

In the Upper Agua Fria, participants described the need to move from reactive responses to more sustained and coordinated action. In the Gila Valley Basin, invasive species are a big concern. In the Cienga Creek Basin near Sonoita Creek, limited legislative protections for rural groundwater and a proposed large-scale mining operation are intensifying concerns about long-term water security.

State representatives also underscored a broader need to strengthen locally driven data collection and provide communities with the tools to advocate for themselves effectively. The RGRx provides local leaders access to a directory of people across the state who have first-hand experience addressing a multitude of groundwater challenges, providing members with peers who can offer insights to identifying and implementing solutions.

“We’re seeing the same themes emerge across rural Arizona — whether it’s data gaps, monitoring needs or governance challenges,” said Michelle Oldfield, community engagement specialist with Impact Water – Arizona. “That creates a real opportunity to learn from each other and scale what’s working.”

what members want to learn from each other. — RGRx members are particularly interested in learning about community engagement approaches and coalition building, as well as sharing success stories from across the state.

Strengthening local capacity

A central focus of the RGRx is building capacity in rural communities, where limited staff and funding often constrain groundwater management efforts.

“Communities are doing incredible work with limited resources,” said Dayanara Avilez, program coordinator for Impact Water – Arizona. “By connecting them and creating opportunities for peer learning, we can help accelerate progress across the state.”

The RGRx creates a space for communities to share practical strategies, ranging from recharge projects to watershed restoration, and adapt them to local conditions.

“With the range of expertise in this group, there’s real potential to make this a meaningful statewide effort,” Manwaring said.

It also reinforces a central idea echoed during the kickoff meeting: “Alone, I am not an expert in all things water, but collectively, we are — and that’s powerful,” said Katherine Hamberger of the Sulphur Springs Water Alliance.

Looking ahead

One of the first collaborative efforts underway is the development of an Arizona Groundwater Basin Directory, a shared resource that will include basin-level snapshots and points of contact.

“It’s about knowing who to call and what they can offer,” one participant noted.

In addition, the RGRx will convene monthly virtual meetings and plans to host an in-person workshop, with future discussions focused on topics including groundwater monitoring, strategies to navigate policy and legislation, recharge approaches and funding opportunities. Participants are also exploring ways to sustain the initiative beyond its current funding.

“By working together across basins, we can build the relationships and capacity needed to support long-term groundwater resilience,” Craig said.

Related stories: