The story of human settlement in the southwest, and in particular in Arizona, is
inextricably tied to the water availability. The relative scarcity in arid environments has
led to seemingly endless disputes, complex regulatory mechanisms and public policy
debates. The result, in the past century, has been the emergence of a system of seemingly
fragmented laws, regulations, court decrees and institutions that embodies the definition
of "Byzantine complexity." This paper looks at water rights and
allocation processes as they affect urban development and water supply planning efforts.
An overview of water rights in Arizona begins with a description of the categories of
water that are regulated, and a brief history of applicable laws. Major sources include
groundwater, surface water, effluent (or "reclaimed" water), and Colorado River water.
Each source has been the independent focus of highly debated regulations, court cases
and compacts dating back to 1919 when the state's surface water law was enacted. A
major focus in the State's central basin aquifers in the past 20 years has been the
implementation of the 1980 Groundwater Code.
The emergence of a veritable "alphabet soup" of water-related institutions has brought
with it additional complexities and challenges. Districts, private utilities, associations,
Indian communities, non-profit groups and a myriad of governmental organizations at all
levels participate in the management of water rights to protect the interests of various
"populations."
As further challenges in managing water supplies develop, new tools emerge to meet
these needs. Among these tools are the State's underground storage (recharge)
program, water exchange guidelines, water augmentation and replenishment districts, and
both "in-state" and "interstate" water banking strategies. Many of these strategies
support the State's assured water supply regulations, which mandate the use of
predominantly non-groundwater supplies for new growth in certain portions of the state.
The overview will conclude with a brief summary of the status of current issues such as
rural water supply pressures, Indian water right settlements, environmental needs,
drought planning considerations and the general political landscape. Includes abstract only.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 310 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 1 |
| Published : | 06/17/2005 |
