This bill proposes several updates to current Arizona water statutes. It introduces new definitions, such as "watershed health uses," which refers to water conserved in natural watercourses that supports watershed health attributes. The definitions of "groundwater" and "riparian area" are refined, clarifying what constitutes groundwater and excluding certain areas from the definition of riparian zones. Additionally, the bill mandates that the director of water resources must issue a report every three years assessing the overall health of each watershed, including various ecological attributes, and requires cooperation from state agencies in providing relevant information.

Furthermore, the bill modifies existing provisions regarding water appropriation and the severance of water rights. It expands the types of uses for which water can be appropriated to include watershed health uses and establishes new requirements for instream flow applications, including the submission of five years of streamflow measurement data. The bill also outlines the responsibilities of the director of water resources in establishing ecological water needs and conducting a preliminary survey of the state's waters by December 31, 2026, with provisions for public engagement and comment. Lastly, the bill includes a sunset provision, stating that this section will be repealed after September 30, 2028.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-101, 45-105, 45-151, 45-152.01, 45-172, 701-1, 96-510, 45-403, 45-833.01, 45-152