The proposed bill would update current statutes regarding groundwater withdrawal limits in Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas (INAs) by establishing a maximum annual withdrawal limit of six acre-feet per acre of legally irrigated land from non-exempt wells. It would introduce penalties for violations of this limit and require that irrigation must occur with groundwater prior to the INA designation to continue using groundwater for irrigation. Additionally, the bill would mandate new measuring device requirements in subsequent INAs and exempt certain correctional facilities from the withdrawal limit, allowing them to irrigate up to ten acres for producing plants for inmate consumption.

Moreover, the bill would enable landowners in an INA to permanently retire irrigated acres and substitute them for other acres within the same INA, provided this does not lead to increased groundwater withdrawals. It would also allow for the construction of new non-exempt wells or replacement wells in new locations, contingent upon compliance with existing regulations to ensure no net increase in groundwater withdrawal. The bill would remove certain water sources from the allowed irrigation sources after the designation of a subsequent INA and make technical and conforming changes to existing statutes, ultimately aiming to improve water management and sustainability in Arizona's irrigation practices.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-437, 45-437.04, 45-431, 45-172, 45-437.01, 45-437.02, 45-437.03, 45-432, 35-146, 35-147