Bill > SB1201

This bill amends Arizona law concerning underground water storage, savings, and replenishment by adding a provision that prohibits municipal providers from storing Colorado River water or Central Arizona Project (CAP) water in underground storage facilities during a declared shortage on the Colorado River, as determined by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior or the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. This change is made to Section 45-852.01, which outlines how stored water is credited to long-term storage accounts, and also impacts Section 45-854.01 regarding the assignability of these credits, by invalidating assignments inconsistent with the new prohibition. Additionally, the bill makes conforming changes to Section 48-3713.02, which grants authority for water storage contracts, by clarifying language and adding a similar prohibition for municipal providers to order CAP water for storage from the district during such shortages. The overall intent is to prevent the storage of critical Colorado River water by municipal providers when it is in short supply, ensuring its availability for direct use.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/84299