ARIZONA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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HB 2609: Harquahala non-expansion area; groundwater transfer |
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PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Petersen, LD 12 BILL STATUS: Caucus & COW |
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Allows eligible municipal providers to
withdraw groundwater in the Harquahala Irrigation Non-Expansion Area (INA) and
increases the maximum groundwater withdrawal limit in that area.
History
An INA is a geographical area that has been designated as having insufficient groundwater to provide a reasonably safe supply for the irrigation of the cultivated lands at the current rate (A.R.S. § 45-402). When an INA is created, no new agricultural lands can be irrigated within the area. The Harquahala INA was established in 1981 (azdwr.gov).
Current statute only allows the State or a political subdivision of the State that owns land that is eligible to be irrigated in the Harquahala INA to withdraw groundwater from the land to transport to an initial Active Management Area (AMA) for its own use or use by the Arizona Water Banking Authority. The groundwater must be withdrawn from a depth of not more than 1,000 feet and at a rate that does not cause the groundwater table at the withdrawal site to decline more than an average of 10 feet per year (A.R.S. § 45-554).
A.R.S. § 45-561 defines a municipal provider as a city, town, private water company or irrigation district that supplies water for non-irrigation use.
Provisions
1. Allows a municipal provider that owns land that is eligible to be irrigated in the Harquahala INA to withdraw groundwater from the land to transport to an AMA. (Sec. 1)
2. Increases the maximum depth for groundwater to be withdrawn in the Harquahala INA from 1,000 feet to 1,500 feet. (Sec. 1)
3. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)
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7. Fifty-fourth Legislature HB 2609
8. First Regular Session Version 2: Caucus & COW
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