AZ HB2561

Amends sections 45-543, 45-555, 45-557, and 45-559 of Arizona Revised Statutes relating to groundwater transfers and transportation between groundwater basins and active management areas.

Modifies groundwater transportation rules to allow groundwater withdrawn and transported to an active management area pursuant to article 8.1 to be transported between sub-basins without payment of damages.

Revises Big Chino sub-basin groundwater withdrawal provisions to allow cities or towns in the Prescott active management area to withdraw and transport 8,068 acre-feet per year if they relinquish central Arizona project water supplies and enter into a federally-approved Indian water rights settlement.

Establishes additional allowance for cities or towns qualifying under the Big Chino provisions to withdraw and transport extra groundwater equal to amounts delivered to Indian tribes exceeding 231 acre-feet annually, and permits delivery to any city, town, or Indian tribe in the Prescott active management area.

Exempts groundwater withdrawn and transported under the revised Big Chino provisions from certain assured water supply requirements and well spacing restrictions that apply to other groundwater transfers.