SAHUARITA FARMS

As farmers, the Waldens have always emphasized stewardship of land and water resources for the region and the state. Leaders of the effort to bring the Central Arizona Project (CAP) to southern Arizona, the Waldens continue to work to extend the CAP pipeline to the Santa Cruz Valley to recharge groundwater and offset pumping of groundwater. For many years, FICO has utilized state-of-the-art irrigation and water conservation technologies to conserve water and reduce its use. Years ago, FICO voluntarily applied to the Arizona Department of Water Resources to designate its farm to be a Groundwater Savings Facility (GSF), and has led local efforts among water companies and users to devise a plan to return to aquifer balance.