>

Anything can grow if you have enough water to waste on it. Alfalfa for cows and lots of lettuce from what I understand.
Is this gonna include all the water going to the Saudi Alfalfa crops or is this because of that? >

Most of the riparian habitat in Arizona is long gone.  Used to be free-flowing surface water and bosques of cottonwood, sycamore, ash, alder.  Even swimming holes and beavers a century ago.  Ironically, those orchards are to some extent serving as replacement wildlife habitat. >

About time. Should’ve been done a decade ago. Too late I fear. >

azpbs.org/horizon/2022/06/saudi-water-deal-threatening-water-supply-in-phoenix/
The there is the Sadui’s agreement with Arizona and it water for their horses feed (hay/alfalfa). >

That looks worse than I imagined. They really are forcing orchards to grow in sand. >

Nobody is forcing anybody to grow anything in the middle of the fucking desert.
These farmers are daft. They spend all this money and time trying to farm in the middle of the fucking desert, and then get all pissy when water restrictions happen. What the fuck kind of dumbass business model is that? "Well, we'll just ignore the obvious impending ecological collapse around here and just hope for the best." 
These restrictions aren't even that harsh, they're just restricting expansion of irrigation. The aquifers in AZ are fucked. 
Not much better here in CA, mind you, but at least we can desalinate as a last resort. >

Because they're getting subsidies to do so. The farm bill consistently gives away incredible amounts of money for farming.  A lot of growers will game the system and figure out what will get them the most money from the government, while simultaneously bitching about socialism. 
We need food and we need to ensure growers are able to pay their bills in years of lean. We don't need to be subsidizing specialty crops in the middle of the fucking desert. >

About time. I have cotton fields around me. Cotton fields in AZ still confuse me. >

When the land is dirt cheap, people will see it as an opportunity... now whether it pans out or not is a different story. >

Golfing is still cool though, right? >

Don't get the golfers started. They will light you up. >

Seems dangerous with the shortage of water. >

ah good thing the groundwater supply is being protected