AZ HB2679

County boards of supervisors outside active management areas bordering the Colorado River may designate groundwater basins or subbasins as rural management areas if they find significant increase in water use, physical overpumping indicators, groundwater depletion within 100 years, or hydrologic connection to surface water resources.

Designation requires majority vote by county supervisors after public notice, 30-day comment period, notice to the Department of Water Resources, cities, towns, and water users, and at least two public meetings in affected communities.

A five-member rural management area advisory council appointed by the governor must establish management goals, analyze best management practices, submit proposed management plans to the director, and hold public hearings on all proposed or revised plans.

Best management practices and measures may include voluntary or mandatory conservation programs, groundwater withdrawal metering and reporting programs, and aquifer recharge or mitigation programs.

The director of water resources must approve, reject, or request revisions to management plans within 30 days of receipt and hold a hearing before approving any plan; county supervisors may rescind the rural management area designation at any time by majority vote.