If enacted, this bill would amend current statutes regarding groundwater withdrawal in Arizona, specifically updating section 45-555. The bill would allow cities or towns that own historically irrigated land in the Big Chino subbasin of the Verde River groundwater basin to withdraw groundwater for transportation not only to adjacent initial active management areas but also to the headwaters of the Verde River within the Big Chino subbasin. This change is marked by the insertion of new language that specifies this additional permissible location for groundwater transport.

Additionally, the bill makes technical changes to the language of the statute, including the correction of the term "sub-basin" to "subbasin" throughout the text. It maintains the existing provisions regarding the amount of groundwater that can be withdrawn and transported, ensuring that the overall framework for groundwater management remains intact while expanding the options for water transport from the Big Chino subbasin.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-555