In a significant development in Arizona water management, the San Pedro Alliance (“Alliance”) recently delivered a petition addressed to the Arizona Department of Water Resources (“ADWR”). Submitted on September 20th, the document requests that the Upper San Pedro Basin be labeled an Active Management Area under Title 45, Section 412 of the 1980 Groundwater Management Act. The designation would have substantial ramifications for groundwater use in the region.
The submission of this petition comes amid growing concerns about sustainable water use in the basin and more generally in Arizona, an arid state where responsible water management is crucial to its economic viability. The documents were submitted in a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Alliance, accompanied by other invested parties, including community groups and environmental organizations.
The 1980 Groundwater Management Act is a cornerstone of water governance in Arizona, and this action could drive significantly increased scrutiny and regulation surrounding groundwater use in the Upper San Pedro Basin, impacting the industries, municipalities, and agricultural entities relying on it. Active Management Areas (AMAs), as specified within the Act, are geographic regions necessitating advanced water management due to their critical condition.
For further reading on this unfolding matter, consider taking a look at the JD Supra Legal News overview of the situation. As additional news surfaces on this petition and its consequences, it will certainly be worth watching closely for legal professionals, especially those working in environmental law or with clients who depend on water resources in Arizona.