HOUSE BILL 2512 - Water Program Amendments

• Transfers natural resource conservation districts administration from the State Land Department to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, making the State Forester the State Natural Resource Conservation Commissioner.

• Establishes a sixth management period (2025-2035) for initial active management areas with new irrigation water duty guidelines, alternative agricultural conservation programs (including historic cropping program), and a non-per capita conservation program for municipal water providers.

• Requires the Director of Water Resources to prepare and submit a desalination action plan by September 30, 2019, identifying brackish groundwater sources, treatment costs, disposal feasibility, and potential binational agreements.

• Modifies water transport requirements by requiring legislative approval in addition to director approval before water can be transported out of state.

• Allows irrigation grandfathered right holders to use groundwater for watering plants in containers as a non-irrigation use, with separate measurement requirements and constraints on total water use.