In a proposed state plan to allocate the already over-allocated Colorado River in Arizona, farmers are losing their shares of Colorado River water to metropolitan areas that are experiencing some of the highest growth in the country. It’s a time of reflection, as one farming family losing its allocation tries to make sense of their loss.
Pinal County farmers have received more federal subsidies than any other county in the state. Now, 200 of them will have to fallow up to 40 percent of their lands by 2026 in order to accommodate lower flows. The cuts to cities and tribes will be smaller and will not slow development.