Arizona Revised Statutes Title 45. Waters § 45-555. Transportation of groundwater withdrawn in Big Chino sub-basin of the Verde River groundwater basin to initial active management area; exception

A. A city or town that owns land consisting of historically irrigated acres in the Big Chino sub-basin of the Verde River groundwater basin, as designated by order of the director dated June 21, 1984, or a city or town with the consent of the landowner, may withdraw from the land for transportation to an adjacent initial active management area an amount of groundwater determined pursuant to this section. The amount of groundwater that may be withdrawn from the land pursuant to this section shall not exceed:

B. The director shall determine the annual transportation allotment as follows:

C. In making the determination required by subsection B, the director shall rely only on credible documentary evidence submitted by the city or town or otherwise obtained by the department.

D. For the purposes of subsections A, B and C:

E. A city or town in the Prescott active management area may withdraw and transport eight thousand sixty-eight acre-feet per year of groundwater from the Big Chino sub-basin of the Verde River groundwater basin to the Prescott active management area if the city or town does both of the following:

F. Notwithstanding the volume limitation in subsection E, in any year in which a city or town that qualifies under subsection E delivers more than two hundred thirty-one acre-feet of water to an Indian tribe for use on its reservation in the Prescott active management area pursuant to a federally-approved Indian water rights settlement, the city or town may withdraw and transport additional groundwater from the Big Chino sub-basin to the Prescott active management area in an amount equal to the amount by which those deliveries exceed two hundred thirty-one acre-feet.

G. Groundwater that is withdrawn and transported pursuant to subsections E and F may be delivered to and used by any city, town or Indian tribe in the Prescott active management area without regard to whether that entity withdraws and transports the water.