SB1256 - 472R - House Bill Summary

House of Representatives

SB 1256

multispecies conservation programs; fees

Sponsors: Senator Flake, Senator Blendu, Representative Aguirre A et al

dp	Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture
dp	Caucus and COW
x	As Transmitted to the Governor

SB 1256 clarifies that fees assessed for the Lower Colorado River Multispecies Conservation Program do not apply to users of Colorado River water who already pay fees and are current in their payments under agreements with a multi-county water conservation district.

History

The Lower Colorado River Multispecies Conservation Program (MSCP), established in 2005, is a cooperative effort among federal government agencies, agencies of Arizona, California and Nevada, and local public and private parties with a common interest in the water and related resources of the lower Colorado River. The MSCP is a 50-year program, created to protect threatened and endangered species, conserve wildlife habitat and to accommodate current water diversions and power production along the lower Colorado River.

The total cost of MSCP is shared between the federal government (50%) and the states (Arizona, California and Nevada, 50%). Funding for MSCP in Arizona is provided by fees assessed and collected by the Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources from users of Colorado River water. Current statute provides guidelines for determining fee assessments, and requires the monies to be channeled into an account designated by a multi-county water conservation district and used solely for the MSCP.

Currently there is one multi-county water conservation district in Arizona, the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD). The CAWCD was created in 1971 for the purpose of operating, maintaining, repaying and managing the Central Arizona Project (CAP). In addition, the CAWCD is responsible for planning and implementing replenishment obligations.

Provisions

· Clarifies that users of Colorado River water who make payments and are current in their payments under agreements with CAWCD for participation in the lower Colorado River Multispecies Conservation Program are not required to pay fees for MSCP assessed by ADWR.

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· Forty-seventh Legislature