The communities of Mammoth, San Manuel, Oracle, Dudleyville, Aravaipa, and the entire San Pedro River Valley face a host of threats to their aquifers, groundwater and surface water. On March 31, 2026, LSPWA, in partnership with the Lower San Pedro Collaborative, hosted a well-attended community meeting at the Mammoth Community Center featuring two hydrology and groundwater experts, who discussed the issue of water sustainability in the Lower San Pedro Watershed Basin. (See the flyer.) Afterwards, attendees raised questions and voiced concerns, both during a lively Q&A and in follow-up surveys, with a 71% participation rate. (If you haven’t yet done so, you, too, can fill out a survey here.)
The two presentations were led by Assistant Research Professor of Hydrology and Atmospheric Science Neha Gupta of the UA’s Arizona Institute of Resilience and by Keith Nelson, retired Arizona Department of Water Resources hydrologist.
The chief takeaway is that scientists require far more data and modeling to determine the degree to which the San Pedro River basins and aquifers can replenish themselves—especially in light of growing industrial, residential and climate impacts. Program/Policy Analyst Thomas Chabin of Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes’ Office also pointed out that Arizona currently has no law that protects our communities and wildlife zones from excessive water extraction.
The community’s feedback about current concerns and priorities in the San Pedro River Valley are helping LSPWA and partners to shape future strategies and lay the groundwork for efforts to preserve and improve the area’s critical water resources and natural habitats.