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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
rural groundwater management; work groups
Purpose
Establishes rural groundwater management work groups (work groups) in each groundwater basin and outlines membership requirements for the work groups. Requires each work group to submit an annual report of its findings and recommendations to the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and requires ADWR to consolidate the work group reports and provide a consolidated report to the Governor and the Legislature.
Background
It is the declared policy of the Legislature to provide for the restoration and conservation of lands and soil resources of Arizona, the preservation of water rights and the control and prevention of soil erosion, and thereby to conserve natural resources, conserve wildlife, protect the tax base, protect public lands and protect and restore Arizona's rivers and streams and associated riparian habitats, including fish and wildlife resources that are dependent on those habitats, and in such manner to protect and promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the people (A.R.S. § 41-6001).
Natural Resource
Conservation Districts (NRCD) are empowered to: 1) conduct surveys,
investigations and research relating to the character of the soil, soil erosion
prevention within a farm or ranch, methods of cultivation, farm and range
practices, seeding, eradication of noxious growths and invasive vegetation and
any other measures that aid farm and range operations; 2) create and administer
a soil health program;
3) conduct demonstration projects to demonstrate by example the means, methods
and measures by which water, soil and soil resources may be conserved and soil
erosion and soil washing may be prevented and controlled; 4) develop, publish
and bring to the attention of landowners, comprehensive plans for conserving
soil and water resources within the NRCD; 5) organize and establish an
education center to increase the knowledge of natural resources in Arizona; and
6) conduct other statutorily outlined powers (A.R.S.
§ 41-6054).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes work groups in each groundwater basin.
2. Requires the NRCD board and soil and water conservation district that are located in each groundwater basin to appoint the work group members.
3. Requires each work group to contain affected parties and local experts, including agricultural producers.
4. Requires the NRCDs, if a groundwater basin contains one or more NRCDs or soil and water conservation districts, to cooperate to ensure that the work group contains a representative sample of each district consistent with the percentage of the groundwater basin that is located in each NRCD.
5. Stipulates that work group members serve without compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses.
6. Requires ADWR to provide each work group with administrative support as requested by the work group.
7. Allows an NRCD to conduct surveys, investigations and research relating to the health of groundwater in the NRCDs groundwater basin.
8. Requires the NRCDs, if there is more than one NRCD in each work group, to coordinate their support of the work group.
9. Allows an NRCD to assist the work groups in holding at least one joint meeting with the members of the work group.
10. Allows the NRCDs to hold a joint meeting if there are multiple NRCDs that share jurisdiction with a work group.
11. Requires the NRCDs, by December 31 of each year to submit a report to ADWR of their findings and recommendations of their collaboration with work groups.
12. Requires each work group, by December 31 of each year, to submit a report of its findings and recommendations for changes in rural groundwater management to ADWR.
13. Requires ADWR to consolidate the reports and provide the consolidated report to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and provide a copy to the Secretary of State.
14. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 13, 2026
SB/hk