Context

Around 40% of the world’s land is now considered arid or very dry, a significant increase from previous decades (Vicente-Serrano et al., 2024). In deserts, rain does not fall often; however, when it does, it tends to arrive in short, intense and powerful bursts, and the soil cannot absorb it efficiently. This extreme precipitation leads to flash floods and erosion due to sparse vegetation and highly erodible soils in these ecosystems.

During a flash flood event, the topsoil is removed, and the land becomes even more degraded (Brandi et al., 2023). Instead of replenishing groundwater or nourishing vegetation, much of the water moves fast over the surface, uncovering hillsides and accelerating soil loss. This process is further exacerbated by centuries of unsustainable industrial and agricultural activity, which have degraded the soil's ability to retain water and support plant life. As vegetation cover disappears, the land becomes more vulnerable to damage, creating a cycle of ecological degradation (Vicente-Serrano et al., 2024). Furthermore, in many parts of Arizona, groundwater is used at a faster rate than it can be naturally replenished by rainfall and infiltration (Strom, 2024)

This situation highlights the urgent need for community-led solutions to restore the environment and build long-term resilience.

References

Brandi, A., Balling, R. C., Iñiguez, P., & Georgescu, M. (2023). Climatological trends of mean and extreme daily precipitation in Arizona (USA). Journal of Arid Environments, 219, 105083. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JARIDENV.2023.105083

Chinganda, C., Atehnkeng, J., Bandyopadhyay, R., Callicott, K., Orbach, M. J., Cotty, P. J., & Mehl, H. L. (2022). Spatial and Temporal Population Dynamics of Aspergillus flavus in Commercial Pistachio Orchards in Arizona. Plant Health Progress, 23(3), 272–280. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-10-21-0128-RS/ASSET/IMAGES/LARGE/PHP-10-21-0128-RSF4-1664269709414.JPEG

Jackson, Z. (2024, July 11). Bowie community receives some good news after water crisis | News | kvoa.com. https://www.kvoa.com/news/bowie-community-receives-some-good-news-after-water-crisis/article_e1b96062-3fc1-11ef-b800-4fa6a93f8f95.html

Lapidus, S. (2023, July 29). Southern Arizonans tell attorney general that grocery merger could increase food deserts, prices, job loss. Arizona Republic. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/07/29/southern-arizona-residents-speak-out-on-albertsons-kroger-merger/70482461007/

Strom, S. E. (2024). Forging a Sustainable Southwest: the Power of Collaborative Conservation. University of Arizona Press.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2023). “Populations and People”, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Subject Tables. https://data.census.gov/profile?g=160XX00US0407380

Vicente-Serrano, S. M., Pricope, N. G., Toreti, A., Moran-Tejeda, E., Spinoni, J., Ocampo-Melgar, A., Archer, E., Diedhiou, A., Mesbahzadeh, T., Ravindranath, N. H., Pulwarty, R. S., & Alibakshi, S. (2024). The Global Threat of Drying Lands: Regional and global aridity trends and future projections. . A Report of the Science-Policy Interface. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).