AZ SB1445

Allows cities and towns in the Prescott active management area to withdraw and transport 8,068 acre-feet per year of groundwater from the Big Chino sub-basin of the Verde River groundwater basin if they relinquish equivalent central Arizona project water allocations and enter into a federally-approved Indian water rights settlement.

Permits additional groundwater withdrawals from the Big Chino sub-basin equal to amounts delivered to Indian tribes for reservation use exceeding 231 acre-feet per year in any given year.

Allows groundwater transported from the Big Chino sub-basin pursuant to these new provisions to be delivered to and used by any city, town, or Indian tribe in the Prescott active management area.

Deems groundwater transported from the Big Chino sub-basin under these new provisions to be legally available for assured water supply purposes without meeting standard central Arizona project water acceptance requirements.

Exempts groundwater withdrawn and transported from the Big Chino sub-basin under these new provisions from well spacing approval requirements.