This bill proposes updates to section 45-105 of the Arizona Revised Statutes regarding the Department of Water Resources. Under current law, the director is required to prepare and issue a water supply and demand assessment for at least six groundwater basins annually, ensuring that all basins are assessed at least once every five years. The bill removes the specific deadline of December 1, 2023, for the initial assessment and instead mandates that the director include detailed metrics in each five-year assessment.

The new bill language specifies that each assessment must include various measurements related to groundwater levels and resources, such as average depth-to-static level, changes in groundwater levels, depth of bedrock, number and distribution of active index wells, estimated groundwater volume, and the impact of recharge projects. These additions aim to enhance the comprehensiveness and accuracy of groundwater assessments, thereby improving water resource management in Arizona.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-105