Since 2009, American alfalfa exports to China have grown by nearly a factor of eight. Tribal water rights issues in Arizona date back to the earliest days of settlement by Anglo Americans. Two people were arrested for a State Farm Stadium brawl after Thursday's soccer matches between Qatar and Honduras plus Mexico and Haiti. Mark Henle/The Republic Fondomonte, a Saudi company, exports the alfalfa to feed its cows in the Middle East. Southern Arizona and California are the biggest agricultural centers in the United States, says Ben Ruddell, an associate professor in the Fulton School of Engineering at ASU who also serves as director of the National Water-Economy Project. And different anxieties, inflamed by Americas complicated relationship with Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf nations checkered record of global citizenship. Most of the farms that Arab companies own worldwide are in developing nations. But China-bound hay is transported back in containers that arrive in the U.S. carrying electronics imports and otherwise return empty, thanks to our high trade deficit. [Their] situation is different, she adds, because they dont have that imported supply of surface water that we have in Phoenix. 'I saw my soul leave my body': WWE stars share their most brutal bumps, Inside Matt Rhule's plan to rebuild Nebraska, one baby shower and fullback camp at a time, Novak Djokovic goes for history -- and more to watch at Wimbledon. When Mayes brought the The cows feed multiple times a day, and they need to be certain that they are always able to fulfill that unwavering demand, she wrote. combat low water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Human smuggler from Phoenix gets 3 years of prison for driving noncitizens to US, Gov. There are 2 additional forms Arizona well owners need to file. After trying for decades to become a self-sufficient food producer, and using trillions of gallons of water in the process, the Saudi government is coming to terms with a sobering fact: Over the past half-century, farming has depleted roughly four-fifths of the groundwater under the Saudi peninsula, putting a hard expiration date on the countrys capacity to feed those 157,000 heads of cattle. AZFamily.com reported that the new wells would have pumped up to 3,000 gallons (11,000 liters) of water per minute. The city of Phoenix really was built for drought, she says. Water permits for Saudi Arabia-owned farm in Arizona revoked. Its suddenly everywhere, and it just seems so unnatural.. Saudi Arabias latest purchase in Arizona involved 10,000 acres of farmland near Vicksburg, Arizona, for $48 million nearly two years ago. If its not sustainable or there are hidden costs that were not accounting for, it might not be as good a deal as we thought. Its difficult to know how much water is being used up by one of the states largest employers, Raytheon Missiles and Defense, which, like Almarai, has a footprint in When the water is gone, its gone. U.S. Customs and Border Protection have released body camera footage that shows Border Patrol agents were concerned that a tribal member they fatally shot last month many have been carrying a handgun. The AWSA represents a significant accomplishment and settles numerous water rights issues in Arizona. According to Jordan Rose, attorney for the Saudi subsidiary that owns and operates the land, Fondomonte Arizona, the La Paz farm is spectacularly water-efficient perhaps the most ambitious, state-of-the-art farm Arizona has ever seen. 2023 www.azcentral.com. The situation in Blythe, California is one where Almarai purchased land with senior water rights, thus freeing them from most water allocation restrictions and making the water relatively cheap. From the road, the fields appear just as otherworldly. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The other is a 39 number which registers you in a class action suit to retain your water rights. And these are retirees, who really werent prepared to spend that much just so they could have water. The additional $25 for non-members covers the VVWU membership fee for the current year. Others say the purchases highlight misguided water policies. Are water permits for Saudi Arabia owned farm in Arizona revoked? 2017-2023 When you purchased your property, most likely,your well was transferred into your name. Should they find discrepancies, which often happens, they will identify the sections in the claim that appear to have errors and provide an estimate of the fee to make the necessary corrections. The land purchases signal that Almarai doesnt just want to buy hay; it wants to grow. Amid a backlash, the state legislature is considering a ban on most foreign-owned farms. Last updated: 7/11/2022. 1025. that Saudi Arabia is not the only foreign power heavily invested in Arizona farmland and water rights. This is the story, he continues. Be that as it may, other experts in the Arizona water-management community are sympathetic to the concerns of La Paz residents. Records at the Department of Water Resources show that the Saudis are drilling deeper and deeper wells, which will likely cause residential wells to go dry. Pass it along to the KTAR News team here. Currently, there is no definitive information about the depth and capacity of the Ranegras aquifer the last hydrology study occurred in 2010 but Irwin believes the anecdotal evidence is compelling. More from this show. No one wants to walk from their sweltering car just to continue to be hot in their home. In 2014, Almarai paid $47.5 million for more than 9,800 acres in La Paz County, Ariz., a sparsely populated alfalfa-growing region that is exempt from severe restrictions on pumping imposed on Phoenix, Tucson and other large Arizona cities under a 1980 state law designed to protect the states aquifers. By contrast, few goods are imported from Saudi Arabia to the U.S., making the cost of shipping hay, hardly a high value crop, across the ocean a dubious practice. Arizonans are right to be outraged that the State of Arizona would allow a Saudi-owned corporation to stick a straw in the ground and suck the water out for free," she said. Arizona Diamondbacks. The country has practically exhausted its own To conserve the kingdoms dwindling water tables for the probable 77 percent population growth predicted over the next three decades, wheat production was halted this year, and alfalfa is set to be phased out over the next three years. Wells are recorded by a number that starts with a 55-XXXXXX. Theyre all using water, too, to produce goods and services many of which are consumed by people outside the state. And its not the only Arab-owned Gulf company to take that approach. But it also returns around 5 million gallons to the underground aquifer for eventual reuse, making it a model of sustainable water practices (comparable figures are not yet available for the Almarai operation). Ironically, it may have been the isolated communitys inherent distrust of outsiders that led to its current predicament. Southern California and Arizona have good water rights. Exactly why the Saudis are spending hundreds of millions of dollars and using potentially billions of gallons of water to grow cattle forage in Arizona may seem puzzling, at first. We really have to get this right., Not surprisingly, many in La Paz County are now calling for regulations albeit regulations that would spare small-scale farmers. La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin raises concern that Almarai will deplete wells. Phoenix Suns filling out roster as NBA free agency begins, 'Felt like my son died all over again': Family speaks out after learning driver that killed 5 was speeding, on TikTok, Family speaks out after learning driver that killed 5 was speeding, on TikTok, Heat waves like the one that's killed 14 in the southern US are becoming more frequent and enduring. The 36 form is your claim for ownership of the water in the well, without it you have a well on your property, but not necessarily the right to use the water in the well! This database will be used by SEC to determine whether the appropriate claims have been filed, are those claims in the name of the current landowner and is the information correct. But they feel exploited too, The unorthodox quest to find Kristin Smarts body, the last piece of an enduring mystery, Lakers free agency: Heres the latest about how their plans are shaping up, California lawmakers act after Taylor Swift ticket fiasco. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Theres hundreds of companies in Arizona that have always been shipping alfalfa and other crops around the globe. A lot of the people [in La Paz] are like, I cant believe the Saudis are over here taking our water after what they did to us back then, says ASU student Ronda, who attended a packed town hall meeting between Arizona Department of Water Resources officials and community members last year. In December 2004, President Bush signed the Arizona Water Settlements Act (AWSA) into law. Homes and trees are burst into flames early Friday afternoon. But China-bound hay is transported back in containers that arrive in the U.S. carrying electronics imports and otherwise return empty, thanks to our high trade deficit. It will continue to figure significantly in Arizona's future. As first disclosed in The Arizona Republic last June, the State Land Department has leased state trust land to the Saudi-owned Fondomonte corporation for $25 per acre, so that the Saudi company could grow alfalfa and send it back to Saudi Arabia to feed that countrys cows. Webwadenelsonredditor 10 mo. When the commission was working on the act, we held public hearings around the state, says Kathleen Ferris, a private practice attorney specializing in water regulation who supervised the drafting of the landmark act, recognized as one of the nations first laws for managing groundwater. Arizona should not be giving its water away to the Saudi Arabians, or anyone else for that matter. The state of Arizona has rescinded drilling permits for two water wells for a Saudi Arabia-owned alfalfa farm in the western portion of the state By Associated Press "It is a scandal that the State of Arizona allowed this to happen," said Mayes, a Democrat, who made canceling these leases a centerpiece of her recent campaign. But Henning suspects the Saudis Arizona operation may actually be more about owning the water used in growing the hay than the hay itself. "We are on the cusp of a potential water disaster in the state of Arizona," Mayes said. In fact, the state rents some land to Fondomonte for $25 an acre. That Fondomonte chose Arizona The company also acquired a large tract near Vicksburg, Ariz., becoming a powerful economic force in a region that has fewer well-pumping restrictions than other parts of the state. Whether you bought property with a well already in place or subsequently had a well drilled, it is critical that all your well documents are in order and that you have properly filed, the 3 needed forms to assure you will be considered as a valid claimant for water rights. Since theyve bought up that farm, theyve increased its efficiency by putting in more efficient delivery systems, drip irrigation and pivot irrigation, he says. This makes no sense and more than that, it appears to be illegal under the Arizona Constitutions Gift Clause. And Saudi Arabia is running out of water. They are 100 percent dependent on groundwater. http://www.gilariver.com/settlement.htm Hike of the Week: Gooseberry Springs near Flagstaff, Fireworks, Swim Parties and More Things To Do in the Valley This Week, 10 Things To Know About Phoenix In The Future. This week, Attorney General Kris Mayes said her office uncovered the inconsistencies in applications for new wells for the company Fondomonte Arizona LLC, which uses sprinklers to grow alfalfa in La Paz County and exports it to feed dairy cattle in Saudi Arabia. By Ben Tracy April 20, 2023 / 10:39 AM / CBS News Farms in western Arizona are growing alfalfa one of the most water-intensive crops in an area where there's a This may be the best $125.00 you have ever spent on your property. As water supplies become less reliable and demands more acute, more countries might use virtual trade to overcome water stress. Recently, I traveled to Vicksburg and met with La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin, who showed me the Fondomonte farm in that western Arizona community. The county grows alfalfa hay in Arizona and California to ship back to its own dairy herds and to save their own water reserves, according to the article. PHOENIX (AP) The state of Arizona has rescinded drilling permits for two water wells for a Saudi Arabia-owned alfalfa farm in the western portion of the state after Theyre stealing our water is a common refrain in the region. Kris Mayes is theDemocratic candidate for Arizona attorney general. Instead of mongo-malls, we got a ginormous alfalfa farm, but the day is young: the Downtown skyscrapers were forecast for the 2020s and 2030s. Yet, for the past seven years, the attorney general and governor have Our expository features, narratives, profiles, and investigative features keep our 385,000 readers in touch with the Valley's latest trends, events, personalities and places. Published 11:28 AM PDT, April 22, 2023. Whether La Paz intentionally opted out or the acts writers chose to focus on bigger population centers, the resulting split between Active Management Areas and exempt districts brought about communities throughout the state with very different dependencies on water. Water permits for Saudi Arabia-owned farm in Arizona revoked. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-108s437enr/pdf/BILLS-108s437enr.pdf Often criticized by environmentalists as a crop that uses an abundance of water while producing little farm-gate revenue, alfalfa is undoubtedly a sound commodity in the here and now. But this operation takes desert farming to a whole new level as if the general store was suddenly replaced by a Walmart Supercenter. Fondomonte declined CBS News' request for an interview or statement. According to Mayes, cows in Saudi Arabia are essentially drinking Arizona water. Water is a precious resource everywhere, and has shaped much of Arizona's past and present. Fifteen dollars of the $100 research fee goes to the VVWU to help fund their efforts to protect Verde Valley water rights. Already Almarai is operating at least 23 wells on the La Paz land, each capable of pumping out more than 100,000 gallons of water daily to feed the moisture-gluttonous crop up to 2.3 million gallons a day. They have said the companies are exploiting Arizonas groundwater law that allows farms to pump as much water as they want in a time of drought. It cost them between $20,000 to $30,000 to replace their well. Saudi firm isn't the only investor draining rural Arizona water Viewed as unfounded by some Arizona officials, concerns of resource-exploitation are unlikely to diminish in coming years particularly as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia embarks on an ambitious campaign to reinvent its global economic holdings in the wake of petroleums recent plummet. Just because La Paz has a valid concern about its groundwater doesnt mean there isnt an unsightly social bias or two at play. The Arizona Republics Rob ODell explains why a Saudi Arabian companys deal for Arizona water raises questions for taxpayers. One couple that I spoke with, the water in their well [near the Almarai farm] dropped 59 feet, Irwin claims. She served two terms on theArizona Corporation Commission. The dont-tread-on-me residents in La Paz, however, told the acts architects they didnt want government regulation in their backyard. Also, the Court requires that any change in address or claimant name be reported on the appropriate forms within 30 days of the change. And then, all of a sudden green! Saudi Arabian-Owned Food Company Buys Plenty of Californias Scarce Water, Published: 4/15/2019, The purchase was made bySaudi food giant Almarai. And one wonders if wed be able to do anything like that now., Hopefully, its a moot point. I rarely hear questions about the water used in the tourism industry. Since 2009, American alfalfa exports to China have grown by nearly a factor of eight. Who knows if that will change, but thats the way things are now, said Daniel Putnam, an agronomist at UC Davis. An Arizona copper miner tried to sell Saudi Arabia's king "American desert farming expertise" in the 1940s. To reduce the pressure on their minuscule water supply, Saudi Arabia banned the cultivation of many thirsty crops within its arid boundaries. (1:17), Sources: Newcastle in talks to host Saudi match, Irving to return to Mavs on 3-year, $126M deal, NBA free agency 2023: Latest deals, news, buzz and reports, VanVleet scores 3-year, $130M Rockets contract, Sources: Lakers retain Hachimura, add Vincent, Sources: Green back with Dubs on $100M deal, Grant returning to Blazers on 5-year, $160M deal, B. The Gila River System adjudication ( Of which the Verde River is part of) , will determine the relative priorities and validity of water claims. For years, Saudi Arabian-owned agriculture company, Almarai, has been buying up California land along with its precious Colorado River water rights to grow and ship alfalfa back to the Kingdom as dairy cow feed. 27 Jun 2023 05:18:06 According to state documents, at least 23 water wells capable of pumping more than 100,000 gallons a day are on the lands owned by Saudi-basedFondomonte Arizona. As attorney general, I will work to put an end to these sweetheart Saudi deals. The state of Arizona has rescinded drilling permits for two water wells for a Saudi Arabia-owned alfalfa farm in the western portion of the state By Associated Press April 22, 2023 WebOne hundred miles west of Phoenix, a Saudi-Arabian owned farming operation grows hay year-round in the desert, with Arizona water being used to feed Saudi cattle via that farming. Should the game take place at Newcastle, it would be the first time that the Saudi-owned club has staged a Saudi Arabia fixture at St James' Park. Author: 12news.com. WebRT @LakotaMan1: Should foreign interests, like Saudi Arabia, be allowed to siphon Arizona water while the Navajo Nation Reservation struggles for access to the same aquifers? For the record, Intels Ocotillo Campus uses about 9 million gallons of water daily in its semiconductor manufacturing about 4 times as much as the Almarai farm in La Paz County, to use an example. Newcastle United are in talks to host a Saudi Arabia fixture at St James' Park during the September international break, sources have told ESPN.
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