SB1520 Summary

• Establishes a new "basin management area" designation for groundwater basins in Gila Bend, Hualapai Valley, and Willcox that can be initiated by the director or by petition signed by at least 10% of registered voters in the basin.

• Grants groundwater users in basin management areas "certificates of groundwater rights" based on historical water use (five years for municipal/industrial users, ten years for irrigation users), with restrictions on new groundwater pumping except through transfers or use of recharged water.

• Creates a "flexibility account" system allowing users to bank unused water allocations or overdraw up to 25% annually, with the ability to sell or transfer credit balances to other users in the same basin.

• Establishes a five-member basin management council appointed by state legislative leaders and the governor, with authority to develop management plans limiting mandatory water reductions to no more than 1% annually and capping total reductions at 10% within the first ten years.

• Immediately converts the Willcox active management area to a Willcox basin management area upon the bill's effective date, with this conversion provision expiring December 31, 2025.