As the drought extends its grip across Arizona, we are flooded with stories of the impending crisis — Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson and other cities are running short of water for future growth and development.

Arizona now faces a hydrologic zero-sum calculation. More water for home building and industry will mean less water use in other sectors. The other sector most affected will be agriculture, for one reason: agriculture uses fully 72% of Arizona’s annual water supply.

Arizona has at last begun to deal with this zero-sum reality. In July, the Legislature passed, and Governor Katie Hobbs signed, an unprecedented law to authorize the transfer of groundwater rights from agricultural to urban use within Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties.

This framework legislation – called “Ag to Urban” –

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