Arizona Revised Statutes Title 45. Waters § 45-519. Drainage water withdrawal permit; conditions for issuance

A. A person may apply for and the director may issue a drainage water withdrawal permit if the director determines that drainage of irrigated lands is necessary for a reasonable economic return from agricultural production in respect to those lands and the withdrawal of such groundwater is consistent with the management plan and achievement of the management goal for the active management area.

B. The holder of a permit issued under subsection A of this section may:

C. When determining compliance with the applicable conservation requirements established pursuant to §§ 45-565, 45-565.01, 45-566, 45-566.01, 45-567, 45-567.01, 45-568 and 45-568.01, the director shall account for groundwater withdrawn pursuant to a permit issued pursuant to subsection A of this section as surface water if the groundwater is withdrawn before January 1, 2035 from within the boundaries of the exempted area prescribed by § 45-411.01, subsection E and is used pursuant to subsection B of this section at a turf related facility or riparian habitat within the exempted area. The director shall cease accounting for the groundwater as surface water on expiration of the exemptions provided for in § 45-411.01 or on termination of the permit, whichever occurs first.

D. The director shall monitor withdrawals of groundwater pursuant to a drainage water withdrawal permit and shall terminate the permit if the conditions for issuance specified in subsection A of this section no longer apply. A permit issued pursuant to this section may be renewed subject to the same criteria used in granting the original permit.