The proposed bill would amend current statutes by requiring the Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources to include specific data in each five-year water supply and demand assessment for groundwater basins. The current law mandates that the Director prepare and issue an assessment for at least six of the fifty-one groundwater basins by December 1 each year, ensuring that all basins are assessed at least once every five years. The bill introduces new requirements for the assessments, including metrics such as average depth-to-static level, net changes in groundwater levels, maximum bedrock depth, and the number of active index wells, among others.

Additionally, the bill makes technical changes to the existing language, clarifying the responsibilities of the Director in relation to groundwater assessments. It removes the specific deadline of December 1, 2023, for the initial assessment and instead establishes a consistent annual timeline for assessments. The new provisions aim to enhance the comprehensiveness of groundwater data collected, thereby improving water resource management in Arizona.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-105
House Engrossed Version: 45-105