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Impact Water - Arizona

Sulphur Springs Valley

Exploratory Scenario Planning for Resilient Agriculture Workshop and Rural Groundwater Resilience Workshop

Rural Groundwater Resilience Efforts: Sulphur Springs Valley

Rural groundwater resilience efforts in the Sulphur Springs Valley began with a 2023 Exploratory Scenario Planning for Water Resilient Agriculture Workshop, led by Lincoln Institute's Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy and ASU.

In December 2025, Impact Water - Arizona and the Sulphur Springs Water Alliance co-hosted a Rural Groundwater Resilience Workshop to focus on strategy and project development as a follow-up to the 2023 workshop.

Timeline of Workshops

Ag XSP to Rural Groundwater Resilience Workshop Timeline

Ag XSP Workshop Highlights

40 participants representing: Farmers, Ranchers, Businesses, Residents, Economic Development and more.
100 adaptive strategies to increase water resiliency
14% reduction in water use by the largest water users in the Willcox Basin

Rural Groundwater Resilience Workshop Highlights

The Sulphur Springs Water Alliance revisited their original 100 adaptive strategies to increase water resiliency
4 priority project concepts mapped out for 2026
23 potential sites identified for future project work on recharge, mesquite removal, road/drainage work, and riparian restoration.

Workshop Outcomes

Formation of Sulphur Springs Water Alliance Two Douglas participants appointed to Groundwater Users Advisory Council Four Willcox participants appointed to Groundwater Users Advisory Council Shaping Water-Resilient Agricultural Futures Toolkit

Workshop Stories