This bill proposes significant updates to Arizona's groundwater management statutes by establishing a process for designating temporary non-expansion areas (TNA) outside of active management areas. It introduces a petitioning process requiring signatures from at least half of the irrigation users and 10 percent of registered voters within the groundwater basin. The bill outlines procedures for verifying signatures, conducting public meetings, and restricting groundwater use within the TNA, allowing only lands irrigated in the past decade to continue using groundwater. It also prohibits new drilling permits for non-exempt wells in the TNA, except under specific conditions, and mandates reporting requirements for groundwater withdrawals.

In addition to these new provisions, the bill removes the requirement for replacement wells to be drilled in similar locations, thereby allowing more flexibility. It prohibits groundwater withdrawals for irrigation from non-exempt wells from exceeding five acre-feet per acre per year within a TNA and requires users withdrawing significant amounts of groundwater to utilize approved measuring devices and file annual reports. The bill also mandates a hydrological analysis of the groundwater basin before the end of a 10-year moratorium and changes the criteria for deeming land as irrigated based on substantial capital investment rather than a 10-year timeframe. These updates aim to improve groundwater management and sustainability in Arizona.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-596, 16-168, 19-111, 45-445.01, 45-445.02, 45-445, 45-445.03, 45-834.01
House Engrossed Version: 45-596, 16-168, 19-111, 45-445.01, 45-445.02, 45-445, 45-445.03, 45-834.01
Senate Engrossed Version: 45-596, 16-168, 19-111, 45-445.01, 45-445.02, 45-445, 45-445.03, 45-834.01