Assigned to NREW FOR
COMMITTEE
Assigned to NREW FOR
COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session
active management areas; sixth management period
Purpose
Establishes a sixth groundwater management period and requires the Director of the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to adopt plans for each Active Management Area (AMA).
Background
The 1980 Groundwater Management Act (Act) established a comprehensive management framework to address groundwater rights, groundwater overdraft and created DWR to administer the Act's provisions (A.R.S. Title 45, Chapter 2). The Act created AMAs in geographic areas where groundwater depletion is most severe and established a goal of safe yield for certain AMAs. DWR is required to develop a series of five sequential management plans for each AMA, beginning in 1980 and ending in 2025, that outline conservation requirements for various users.
Currently, there are five AMAs: Phoenix, Tucson, Pinal, Prescott and Santa Cruz. Management plans for each AMA are required to include a continuing mandatory conservation program for all persons who withdraw, distribute or receive groundwater (A.R.S. § 45-563).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes a sixth management period from 2025 to 2035 and requires the Director of DWR to adopt a management plan for each AMA that outlines goals to achieve reductions in withdrawals of groundwater and includes conservation measures and requirements for agricultural, municipal and industrial users.
2.
Requires the Director of DWR to
establish at least one advisory committee for each
AMA.
3. Requires an evaluation of the effectiveness of the fifth and sixth management plans and recommendations to either continue or revise the conservation requirements. Establishes a due date of December 31, 2030, for the Director of DWR to submit the report to the Governor and the Legislature.
4. Requires Legislative Council to prepare proposed legislation to conform Arizona Revised Statutes to the changes made in this act for consideration during the next legislative session.
5. Makes technical and conforming changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 8, 2018
KK/lat