SB 1412 Summary

• Amends Arizona water rights adjudication procedures by deferring determination of small water use claims until all other claims in a subwatershed are resolved by the superior court, except when a claimant asserts both small and non-small water use claims in the same subwatershed.

• Defines "small water use claim" to include stockponds with capacity not exceeding 15 acre-feet used solely for livestock/wildlife watering, wells with maximum pumping capacity not exceeding 35 gallons per minute, and stock watering uses from natural water sources or developed facilities.

• Repeals section 45-258 related to de minimis use summary adjudication procedures and removes references to de minimis determinations from the director's technical assistance requirements in general water rights adjudication.

• Modifies evidentiary presumptions in section 45-261 to eliminate exceptions previously provided in section 45-258, clarifying how prior filings and decrees are treated in establishing water right attributes.

• Permits settlement of small water use claims at any time during adjudication proceedings, notwithstanding the general deferral requirement.