News Summary
The small town of Wenden, Arizona, is experiencing a serious crisis as severe groundwater depletion leads to alarming subsidence. Over 15 years, the town has sunk 3.5 feet, primarily due to excessive groundwater extraction by megafarms. Local residents are facing increased financial pressures as they drill deeper wells to access water. The lack of strict regulations around groundwater usage exacerbates the situation. As climate change worsens drought conditions, the need for urgent legislative action becomes critical to protect Wenden’s water resources and the livelihoods of its residents.
Arizona is facing a growing crisis as the small town of Wenden witnesses alarming subsidence due to severe groundwater depletion. Over the past 15 years, Wenden, located about 100 miles west of Phoenix in La Paz County, has sunk approximately 3.5 feet and is currently decreasing by more than 2 inches annually. The town, which boasts a population of just 412 residents, relies almost entirely on wells for its drinking water, making the situation increasingly dire.
The primary culprit behind this drastic situation is the excessive extraction of groundwater. Local aquifers are being drained, particularly by large-scale agricultural operations known as megafarms. One prominent example is the Saudi-owned Fondomonte alfalfa farm, which has drawn significant attention for its extensive use of groundwater. As climate change exacerbates drought conditions throughout the region, water levels in the Colorado River Basin are falling, forcing small communities like Wenden to rely more heavily on their already strained groundwater supplies.
Compounding the issue, Arizona’s agricultural sector largely operates without stringent regulations. Currently, 80% of the state has no accountability measures regarding groundwater consumption. A 2025 study from Arizona State University (ASU) revealed that groundwater is depleting at a faster rate than surface water within the crucial Colorado River Basin, despite communities growing more reliant on this resource.
In a bid to combat this imbalance and protect Wenden’s water supply, Arizona’s Attorney General has initiated a nuisance lawsuit against Fondomonte for the detrimental effects its excessive water extraction has on the local community. The company reportedly utilizes an astonishing 81% of the groundwater in the area while claiming to have created over 1,750 local jobs.
Residents of Wenden are facing mounting financial pressures due to this crisis. Many are forced to drill deeper wells to maintain access to water; for instance, local RV park owner Rob McDermott had to borrow $120,000 to drill a new well after his original well ran dry. As foreign-owned megafarms have nearly doubled their presence in Arizona, occupying around 3 million acres according to the US Department of Agriculture, the challenges for local communities grow increasingly critical.
Regulatory efforts aimed at managing groundwater extraction in Arizona are currently stalled due to bipartisan disagreements. The 1980 Arizona Groundwater Code, designed to oversee the state’s limited groundwater resources, has largely failed to be effectively enforced, particularly in rural communities like Wenden. Experts project that unless immediate action is taken, half of the wells in the area could run dry within the next 50 years.
Local leaders and concerned residents are advocating for urgent legislative measures to limit the amount of groundwater that megafarms can extract. Recommendations from ASU suggest a transition to less water-intensive crops and improved irrigation methods as potential solutions to help mitigate the crisis of groundwater depletion.
As the situation progresses, experts caution that without adequate regulatory frameworks, the access to groundwater resources might increasingly fall under the control of the wealthiest agricultural interests. This shift could jeopardize the livelihoods of small businesses and local residents, raising pressing questions about the future of water availability in the region.
In summary, Wenden’s alarming sinking underscores a broader issue of groundwater management in Arizona, intertwining the challenges of climate change, agricultural practices, and the livelihoods of local communities. The need for immediate legislative action is critical to safeguard the precious water resources essential for the survival of towns like Wenden.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- New York Post: Arizona Town Sinking
- Wikipedia: Groundwater
- ABC 15: ASU Researcher Warns
- Google Search: Groundwater Depletion Arizona
- Voice of America: Arizona Sues Saudi Firm
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Water Resource
- AP News: Arizona Groundwater Pumping
- Google News: Arizona Groundwater Crisis
Author: STAFF HERE PHOENIX WRITER
PHOENIX STAFF WRITER The PHOENIX STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREPhoenix.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Phoenix, Maricopa County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Cactus League Spring Training, and Arizona State Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and Visit Phoenix, plus leading businesses in technology and healthcare that power the local economy such as Intel and Banner Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERETucson.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Arizona's dynamic landscape.
