Water Resources 101 Arizona’s Institutional : Boundaries and Regulations

Water Resources 101 Four Types of Water In Arizona STATE’s WATER - ARIZONA: Surface Water Groundwater Effluent FEDERAL WATER - COLORADO RIVER: Dept. of Interior International Stream (US-Mexico)

Water Resources 101

Focus on Water Quantity Quantity ADWR lead for state waters Holders of Water Rights Quality and Quantity are not fully integrated in Az Recharge Quality covered by ADEQ

Water Resources 101 ARIZONA - Surface Water Resources Doctrine of Prior Appropriation (1919) SW Rights permitted by the State

Water Resources 101 Surface Water Management in Arizona ADWR issues permits Water Rights managed by Court Decrees: Ex. Kent Decree – Salt River Valley On-going State-wide Water Rights Court Case – “The Adjudication” Started in 1970s – still going…… Lawyers

Water Resources 101 Federal Role in Arizona Bureau of Reclamation Projects Funding For: Major Dams (SRP + Lake Pleasant) Conveyance Features (SRP, CAP, Yuma area) Management and Coordination: Colorado River (USBR) US-MX coordination through IBWC / CILA Limited Role w/Groundwater

Water Resources 101

Groundwater Management in Arizona Arizona has some of the most progressive and complex groundwater management regulations in the entire United States, Current groundwater laws DO NOT reconcile the physical connection between Groundwater and Surface Water!

Water Resources 101 Colorado Plateau Basin & Range Arizona’s Groundwater Provinces

Water Resources 101 Colorado Plateau Aquifers Large basins Thick sequences of sedimentary rocks Natural recharge from snowmelt Significant volumes in aquifer storage Development on-going

Water Resources 101 Basin & Range Aquifers Large groundwater basins Thick basins filled with alluvium Little natural recharge Originally lots of water in storage Over-exploited since 1940s

Water Resources 101 Ground Water Resource Management Concepts General Doctrine of Beneficial Use Some conflicts with Surface Water Rights Doctrine Significant Portions of Arizona’s Development Based on Groundwater

Water Resources 101 Arizona Groundwater Management Code 1980 GW Code - Comprehensive state-wide management of AZ groundwater Federal authorization of CAP linked to Az groundwater management Principal purpose of CAP – “Reduce Groundwater Pumping” Federal government threatened funding for CAP construction unless Az adopted GW Code Targets solutions in critical areas by 2025 Az GW Code is a model for other states

Water Resources 101 State-wide Provisions of Groundwater Management

Water Resources 101 The 1980 Groundwater Code Statewide Provisions Adequate Water Supply Register All Wells Well Metering Required Annual Reporting Annual Pumpage Fees Small well exemption 35 gpm

Water Resources 101 Arizona Groundwater Management Code 1980 GW Code - Comprehensive state-wide management of AZ groundwater Federal authorization of CAP linked to Az groundwater management Principal purpose of CAP – “Reduce Groundwater Pumping” Federal government threatened funding for CAP construction unless Az adopted GW Code Targets solutions in critical areas by 2025 Az GW Code is a model for other states

Water Resources 101 State-wide Provisions of Groundwater Management

Water Resources 101 The 1980 Groundwater Code Statewide Provisions Adequate Water Supply Register All Wells Well Metering Required Annual Reporting Annual Pumpage Fees Small well exemption 35 gpm

Water Resources 101 The 1980 Groundwater Code Statewide Provisions Adequacy Requirements (outside of AMAs) 100 year supply assessment Consumer advisory program Legal Availability Physical Availability Continuous Availability Water Quality

Water Resources 101 SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau 1900 to 2000; Arizona Department of Economic Security 2010 to 2050 (April 2006 Projections) Population Estimates and Projections 1900 to 2050 GW Management Act

Water Resources 101

Regional Provisions of Groundwater Management

Water Resources Groundwater Code – Bold Legislative Intent Declaration of Policy “The legislature finds that…withdrawal of groundwater is greatly in excess of the safe annual yield and that this is threatening to destroy the economy of certain areas of this state and is threatening to do substantial injury to the general economy and welfare of this state and its citizens.” §45-401(A)

Water Resources 101 The 1980 Groundwater Code “SAFE YIELD” Goal to Reach “Sustainable” Groundwater Use Conceptual Water Balance GW Withdrawals Water Uses Surface Water Uses/Imported Water Uses Conservation/Effluent Uses Aquifer Recharge Hydrologic Limits of Low Natural Recharge Most GW Pumping “Mines” GW

Water Resources 101 Management Areas Prescott AMA: safe-yield by 2025 Phoenix AMA: safe-yield by 2025 Tucson AMA: safe-yield by 2025 Pinal AMA: preserve agriculture as long as feasible while preserving groundwater for future needs (1,000 feetr depth to water limit) Santa Cruz AMA: maintain safe-yield, prevent long-term water table declines INA – Irrigation Non-expansion Areas Goals

Water Resources 101 Arizona Groundwater Code AMA & INA Provisions Wells Annual Reporting of Groundwater Annual Pumpage Fees Small well exemption <35 gpm Municipal Rights Provisions designed to accommodate growth and regulate use Service Area Rights Conservation Targets Ag No expansion of ag - Irrigation Acres Defined ( ) Ag Water rights tied to the land Water duties assigned based on historic farm use Ag conservation targets Conversion to Non-irrigation permitted The provisions promote conversion of ag rights to M&I use

Water Resources 101 The 1980 Groundwater Code - AMAs Protects Groundwater Management goals Assured Water Supply rules Water conservation Protects the Economy Provides for municipal water rights (Service area rights) Provides for industrial water rights Recharge program to protect against drought Provides incentives for renewable/sustainable supplies Protects Existing Uses Provides groundwater rights to existing users Regulations on location of new wells

Water Resources 101 The 1980 Groundwater Code AMA Management Plans Conservation Requirements  Per capita water use targets for Water Providers  Maximum losses for Water Providers – 10%  New Water Duties for Farms  Specific Requirements for Industries Power Plants – Recycling for Cooling (cycles of concentration) Copper Mines – Minimum density for tailings sludges Large building cooling – Recycling Golf Courses – Water Allocations Incentives for Reclaimed Water Use

Water Resources 101 The 1980 Groundwater Code Assured Water Supply Program Intentional Planning for Future Growth REQUIRES DEMONSTRATION OF 100 yr Available Water Supply Quality Quantity Water use must be consistent with goal (i.e. growth not based on GW mining) Regulatory incentives for use of renewable water resources, conversion of ag, effluent reuse

Water Resources 101 The 1980 Groundwater Code AWS – Policy Framework Consumer Protection – Demonstration of Sustainable Development Physical and legal available water supply Site-specific Determination Projection of water demands for a development State Makes A Regulatory Determination Permit or Modify Application

Water Resources 101 The 1980 Groundwater Code AWS Actions “Excess” Groundwater Pumping Must Be Recharged Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD) Mandatory Water Conservation

Water Resources 101 “Safe Yield” Are We There Yet? Municipal demand Agricultural demand Overdraft Industrial demand Population: 1980: 518, : 1,000,000 Tucson AMA Data

Water Resources 101 The Third Supply - ReclaimedWater Effluent is always available Arizona’s only growing water supply Supports riparian habitats, instream flows, & recharge Resource is owned by the generator

Water Resources 101 The Third Supply - ReclaimedWater Use Options Direct Reuse Indirect Potable Reuse Direct Potable Reuse Perceptions vs. Risk