The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend current statutes regarding the transportation of groundwater from the Harquahala irrigation non-expansion area (INA) to an initial active management area (AMA). Specifically, it would require individuals transporting groundwater from any part of the Harquahala INA to pay a groundwater transportation fee to the county that contains a portion of the Harquahala INA but does not contain any part of an initial AMA. This new requirement is an addition to the existing law, which already mandates a transportation fee for groundwater transported from other basins to an initial AMA.

Additionally, the bill would make technical changes to the language of the statute, including the replacement of the term "sub-basin" with "subbasin." It would also clarify that the transportation fee applies to groundwater transported away from the Harquahala INA, aligning it with existing provisions for other groundwater basins. The bill does not alter the exemptions for stored water withdrawn under recovery well permits, which remain unchanged under current law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-556