The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend current statutes regarding the determination of assured water supply by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR). Specifically, it would expand the factors that the ADWR Director must consider when assessing the depth to water. This includes the volume of unreplenished groundwater that an applicant intends to use, which is a new requirement not present in the current law. The bill also stipulates that the ADWR must find this volume to be physically available based on the department's groundwater model, which must show that, after 100 years of pumping, the annual volume of unreplenished groundwater at the withdrawal point is equal to or less than specified depths depending on the active management area.

Additionally, the bill modifies the definition of "sufficient groundwater" to clarify that it refers to the proposed groundwater withdrawals over a century that will not exceed a depth established by rule for the active management area or the depth of the aquifer bottom, whichever is less. It removes outdated language regarding groundwater replenishment districts and reinforces the need for the ADWR to consider the volume of unreplenished groundwater in its assessments. Overall, these changes aim to enhance the criteria for determining assured water supply and ensure sustainable groundwater management.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-576
House Engrossed Version: 45-576