Less than a year ago, voters in the city of Douglas approved a ballot initiative to impose stricter groundwater regulations through so-called active management areas. After county officials launch another effort to eliminate AMA, the system will remain in place, at least for now.

While Arizona has other actively managed areas, the Douglas AMA in southeastern Arizona was the first in the state to be approved by popular vote.

But then, in July, a new initiative put forward by local county residents was aimed at canceling that historic AMA.

A vote was scheduled to take place in Cochise County in November of this year.

but, suit A lawsuit filed by the Environmental Defense Action Fund argued that the new initiative had not been properly filed.

James Burton is the attorney representing the Foundation.

“Most importantly, they submitted their signatures in two parts, which is clearly not permitted under Arizona law and has been confirmed by the Arizona courts,” he said.

County election officials found the lawsuit worthwhile and removed the initiative to cancel the AMA from the ballot. Cochise County resident Ann Waters, the resident behind the new ballot initiative, declined to comment on the county’s decision or why it proposed the new initiative.