1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

I am writing to you today as an Arizona constituent concerned about our long-term water security, wildfire resilience, and economic safety. When development expands into our forest lands, it triggers a dangerous, compounding cycle. Healthy forest roots act as natural infrastructure, keeping soil stable and allowing rainwater to filter deep into underground aquifers. When we clear or over-develop these areas, root systems are lost, leading to severe soil erosion and rapid runoff instead of groundwater recharge. This creates a destructive feedback loop: less forest cover leads to worse soil erosion and lower groundwater reserves, which leaves surrounding timber drier and vastly increases our risk of catastrophic wildfires. Severe fires then damage the soil further—making it water-repellent—which causes destructive post-fire flooding and prevents the land from recovering. This snowball effect threatens our entire state's water supply and drains taxpayer dollars through emergency response and infrastructure repairs. I urge you to support policies that prioritize responsible development zoning, sound watershed management, and proactive protection for Arizona’s forests. Thank you for your service and attention to this critical issue. Sincerely,