AZ SB1448

Changes Arizona Revised Statutes Section 45-412 to require (rather than allow) the director to designate areas as subsequent active management areas when criteria are met.

Director shall designate subsequent active management areas when active management practices are necessary to preserve groundwater supply, land subsidence or fissuring endangers property, or groundwater use causes water quality degradation.

Subsequent active management areas may include multiple groundwater basins but cannot be smaller than or only partially include a single groundwater basin, except for northern Arizona regional aquifer systems.

Director must periodically review all areas not currently in active management areas to determine if they meet the criteria for designation.