This bill proposes several updates to the Arizona Revised Statutes concerning water management. It introduces new definitions, including "ecological water needs," which refers to water necessary to sustain freshwater ecosystems, and "watershed health uses," which pertains to conserved water that supports watershed health. The bill also modifies existing definitions by removing outdated language and replacing it with more relevant terms. For instance, it updates the definition of "riparian area" to clarify its characteristics and excludes certain man-made water bodies from this classification. Additionally, it mandates the director of water resources to establish standard measures for ecological water needs and to publish a preliminary survey of the state's water status by December 31, 2025.

Furthermore, the bill requires annual assessments of water supply and demand for groundwater basins and introduces a new requirement for a triennial report on the overall health of each watershed. It emphasizes the need for cooperation among state agencies in providing relevant information for these assessments. The bill also includes provisions for public engagement in the survey process, such as open meetings and responses to public comments. Lastly, it specifies that certain applications for water appropriation for watershed health uses will not be subject to previous restrictions, thereby facilitating the management of water resources in alignment with ecological needs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-101, 45-105, 45-151, 45-152.01, 45-172, 701-1, 96-510, 45-403, 45-833.01, 45-152