Bill > SB1287

This bill amends existing Arizona law regarding groundwater use for domestic purposes and stock watering, specifically for individuals holding an "irrigation grandfathered right." An irrigation grandfathered right is a legal entitlement to use groundwater for irrigation that existed before certain groundwater management regulations were put in place. The bill clarifies that a person with such a right can withdraw up to ten acre-feet of groundwater annually for domestic or stock watering purposes from wells already used for irrigation on their certificated acres, provided that this use was occurring as of the date the active management area was established, and no other specific type of groundwater right has been issued for these uses. The bill also specifies that this groundwater can only be used on the same land where it was previously used for domestic or stock watering purposes as of that designation date, and for the same purposes. It further clarifies that if both domestic and stock watering uses occur, the total withdrawal cannot exceed ten acre-feet per year. The bill also addresses replacement wells, the exemption from conservation requirements if water is metered, and how unmetered withdrawals are treated for reporting and accounting purposes. Finally, it states that this right is tied to the irrigation grandfathered right and is extinguished if the irrigation right is retired or converted to a non-irrigation use. The bill also provides definitions for "certificated acres," "domestic purposes," and "stock watering."

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/84811