ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

HB2538: water protection fund; appropriation

Sponsor: Representative Griffin, LD 14

Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Overview

Appropriates $1,000,000 from the state General Fund (GF) to the Arizona Water Protection Fund (AWPF).

History

AWPF provides grants to maintain, enhance and restore rivers, streams, riparian habitats, and to support fish and wildlife dependent on these habitats (A.R.S. § 45-2101). This fund is overseen by the AWPF Commission and administered through the Arizona Department of Water Resources (A.R.S. §§ 45-2103, 45-2114).

AWPF monies are used for projects including stream channel restoration, riparian revegetation, wetland creation and restoration and erosion control. For example, in FY 2021, AWPF monies were used for projects that controlled erosion to stabilize soils and restore historic grasslands in the Upper Verde River watershed, restored a riparian area in the Lower Verde River and aided conservation efforts for a farm in Cochise County (AWPF FY 2021 Annual Report).

The AWPF receives revenues from fees for water purchased or leased from the Central Arizona Project, gifts, grants and donations (A.R.S. § 45-2112). Since FY 2017, AWPF has received an annual deposit of $250,000 from the state GF with additional one-time deposits in certain years, including $1,000,000 in FY 2022 (FY 2022 Appropriations Report).

Provisions

1. Appropriates $1,000,000 in FY 2023 from the state GF to the AWPF. (Sec. 1)

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5. HB 2538

6. Initials PAB/KM Page 0 Natural Resources, Energy & Water

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