Bill > HB2073

This bill addresses water rights and watershed health in Arizona by making several key amendments to existing state law. The bill introduces a new definition for "watershed health uses" as water conserved in a natural watercourse that supports the attributes of watershed health, and expands the ability of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and other state entities to acquire and lease surface water rights for watershed health and instream uses. The legislation requires the director of water resources to issue a comprehensive watershed health report every three years, which will assess the overall health of each watershed based on attributes like hydrology, landscape condition, habitat condition, geomorphology, water quality, biological condition, and potential threats. The bill also modifies existing statutes to allow the Arizona Game and Fish Department and other state entities to appropriate unappropriated water for watershed health uses, file instream flow applications with specific requirements, and transfer water rights for watershed health purposes. These changes aim to provide more flexible management of water resources and improve the understanding and preservation of Arizona's watersheds, with a focus on comprehensive ecological assessment and conservation.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/81739