Adjudications Overview
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ADJUDICATIONS DIVISION
The ADWR Adjudications Division provides technical assistance to the Superior Court in the General Stream Adjudication Proceedings. To assist the Court, Adjudications accepts the filing of Statements of Claimant (SOCs) and amendments and modifications of SOCs, investigates and reports on water uses as directed by the Court, and provides reports on various technical issues. The Adjudications Division’s responsibilities are described more fully in Arizona Revised Statutes § 45-256.
The general stream adjudication is a judicial proceeding to determine the nature, extent, and relative priority of water rights in Arizona. See Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) §§ 45-251 to 45-264. There are two general stream adjudications in the state, one for the Gila River System and Source (Gila Adjudication) and one for the Little Colorado River System and Source (LCR Adjudication). The exterior boundaries of these two adjudication areas include more than half the state, where most of the Indian reservations and federal lands are located. Thousands of claimants and water users are joined in these proceedings, which will result in the Superior Court issuing a comprehensive final decree of water rights for both river systems. Click here to see a Map of Adjudicated Areas in Arizona.
Click Gila River and Little Colorado River General Stream Adjudications for more information.
Central information repository
ADWR maintains a Central Information Repository for data, reports, and other information related to the adjudications, which contains thousands of documents. This information is available to the public and to the parties.
Statement of Claimant and New Use Summons Information
Adjudication summons was served upon all persons listed in the property tax assessments in each watershed and on all persons in the watershed who had, at any time, any water rights filing on record with ADWR. 100,000 SOCs have been filed in the adjudications in response to the original and new use summons. Through the end of the calendar year 2018, over 85,000 SOCs have been filed in the Gila Adjudication, and over 14,000 SOCs have been filed in the LCR Adjudication.
Additionally, ADWR conducts an annual search of its records to determine whether new water uses have been initiated within the adjudication areas and serves new use summons by certified mail to those potential claimants.
Reports
ADWR prepares and publishes technical reports on specific issues or factual matters within the adjudications, such as Indian water rights settlements, Hydrographic Survey Reports, de minimis water uses, the determination of subflow, comments on procedural issues, and status reports.
Report Type
Hydrographic Survey Reports
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| November 1990 |
Silver Creek Hydrographic Survey Report Silver Creek Hydrographic Survey Report |
| November 1991 |
San Pedro River Watershed Hydrographic Survey Report San Pedro River Watershed Hydrographic Survey Report |
| March 2019 |
Preliminary Navajo Reservation Hydrographic Survey Report Preliminary Navajo Reservation Hydrographic Survey Report |
| September 1994 |
Preliminary HSR on Indian Lands Preliminary HSR on Indian Lands |
| December 2008 |
Hopi Indian Reservation Preliminary Hydrographic Survey Report Hopi Indian Reservation Preliminary Hydrographic Survey Report |
| December 2015 |
Hopi Indian Reservation Final Hydrographic Survey Report Hopi Indian Reservation Final Hydrographic Survey Report |
| December 2019 |
Final Navajo Reservation HSR Final Navajo Reservation Hydrographic Survey Report |
Subflow
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| February 2015 |
Supplement to Revised Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed Supplement to Revised Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed |
| June 2009 |
Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed |
| April 2012 |
Subflow Zone Delineation Methodology Report for the San Pedro River Watershed Subflow Zone Delineation Methodology Report for the San Pedro River Watershed |
| March 2002 |
Subflow Technical Report for the San Pedro River Watershed Subflow Technical Report for the San Pedro River Watershed |
| April 2014 |
Revised Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed Revised Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed |
| Reissued May 2015 |
Reissued Supplement to Revised Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed Reissued Supplement to Revised Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed |
| July 2010 |
Mapping of Holocene River Alluvium along the Verde River, Central Arizona Mapping of Holocene River Alluvium along the Verde River, Central Arizona |
| April 2023 |
2023 Subflow Zone Delineation for the Remainder of the Verde River Watershed 2023 Subflow Zone Delineation for the Remainder of the Verde River Watershed |
| December 2021 |
2021 Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the Verde River Mainstem and Sycamore Canyon Subwatershed 2021 Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the Verde River Mainstem and Sycamore Canyon Subwatershed |
De minimis
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| July 2019 |
Lower Little Colorado River Subwatershed Technical Report Lower Little Colorado River Subwatershed Technical Report |
| September 1993 and April 1994 |
Implementation of Summary Adjudication Process for De Minimis Uses Implementation of Summary Adjudication Process for De Minimis Uses |
| August 2022 |
2022 De Minimis Domestic, Stockpond, and Stock and Wildlife Watering Uses in the Verde River Watershed 2022 De Minimis Domestic, Stockpond, and Stock and Wildlife Watering Uses in the Verde River Watershed |
| December 2021 |
2021 Technical Report on De Minimis Domestic Water Use in the Verde River Watershed 2021 Technical Report on De Minimis Domestic Water Use in the Verde River Watershed |
| April 1994 |
1994 Technical Report on De Minimis Adjudications of Uses Supplied From Wells in the Little Colorado River System 1994 Technical Report on De Minimis Adjudications of Uses Supplied From Wells in the Little Colorado River System |
| September 1993 |
1993 Technical Report on De Minimis Adjudication of Stockpond and Stockwatering Uses in the Silver Creek Watershed 1993 Technical Report on De Minimis Adjudication of Stockpond and Stockwatering Uses in the Silver Creek Watershed |
Gila River Adjudication
San Pedro River
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| February 2015 |
Supplement to Revised Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed Supplement to Revised Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed |
| June 2009 |
Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed |
| April 2012 |
Subflow Zone Delineation Methodology Report for the San Pedro River Watershed Subflow Zone Delineation Methodology Report for the San Pedro River Watershed |
| March 2002 |
Subflow Technical Report for the San Pedro River Watershed Subflow Technical Report for the San Pedro River Watershed |
| November 1991 |
San Pedro River Watershed Hydrographic Survey Report San Pedro River Watershed Hydrographic Survey Report |
| April 2014 |
Revised Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed Revised Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed |
| May 2012 |
Report Concerning Federal Reserved Water Rights for the San Pedro Riparian Nation Conservation Area Report Concerning Federal Reserved Water Rights for the San Pedro Riparian Nation Conservation Area |
| February 2014 |
Report Concerning Federal Reserved Water Rights Claim for Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Area Report Concerning Federal Reserved Water Rights Claim for Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Area |
| Reissued May 2015 |
Reissued Supplement to Revised Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed Reissued Supplement to Revised Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the San Pedro River Watershed |
| June 2010 |
Land Ownership Report for the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area Land Ownership Report for the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area |
| September 1993 and April 1994 |
Implementation of Summary Adjudication Process for De Minimis Uses Implementation of Summary Adjudication Process for De Minimis Uses |
Verde River
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| July 2010 |
Mapping of Holocene River Alluvium along the Verde River, Central Arizona Mapping of Holocene River Alluvium along the Verde River, Central Arizona |
| April 2023 |
2023 Subflow Zone Delineation for the Remainder of the Verde River Watershed 2023 Subflow Zone Delineation for the Remainder of the Verde River Watershed |
| August 2022 |
2022 De Minimis Domestic, Stockpond, and Stock and Wildlife Watering Uses in the Verde River Watershed 2022 De Minimis Domestic, Stockpond, and Stock and Wildlife Watering Uses in the Verde River Watershed |
| December 2021 |
2021 Technical Report on De Minimis Domestic Water Use in the Verde River Watershed 2021 Technical Report on De Minimis Domestic Water Use in the Verde River Watershed |
| December 2021 |
2021 Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the Verde River Mainstem and Sycamore Canyon Subwatershed 2021 Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the Verde River Mainstem and Sycamore Canyon Subwatershed |
Little Colorado River Adjudication
Lower Little Colorado River
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| July 2019 |
Lower Little Colorado River Subwatershed Technical Report Lower Little Colorado River Subwatershed Technical Report |
| April 1994 |
1994 Technical Report on De Minimis Adjudications of Uses Supplied From Wells in the Little Colorado River System 1994 Technical Report on De Minimis Adjudications of Uses Supplied From Wells in the Little Colorado River System |
Silver Creek
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| November 1990 |
Silver Creek Hydrographic Survey Report Silver Creek Hydrographic Survey Report |
| April 1994 |
1994 Technical Report on De Minimis Adjudications of Uses Supplied From Wells in the Little Colorado River System 1994 Technical Report on De Minimis Adjudications of Uses Supplied From Wells in the Little Colorado River System |
| September 1993 |
1993 Technical Report on De Minimis Adjudication of Stockpond and Stockwatering Uses in the Silver Creek Watershed 1993 Technical Report on De Minimis Adjudication of Stockpond and Stockwatering Uses in the Silver Creek Watershed |
Navajo Nation
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| March 2019 |
Preliminary Navajo Reservation Hydrographic Survey Report Preliminary Navajo Reservation Hydrographic Survey Report |
| December 2019 |
Final Navajo Reservation HSR Final Navajo Reservation Hydrographic Survey Report |
Hopi Tribe
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| December 2008 |
Hopi Indian Reservation Preliminary Hydrographic Survey Report Hopi Indian Reservation Preliminary Hydrographic Survey Report |
| December 2015 |
Hopi Indian Reservation Final Hydrographic Survey Report Hopi Indian Reservation Final Hydrographic Survey Report |
Pueblo of Zuni
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| September 1994 |
Preliminary HSR on Indian Lands Preliminary HSR on Indian Lands |
Tribal Reports
Navajo Nation
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| March 2019 |
Preliminary Navajo Reservation Hydrographic Survey Report Preliminary Navajo Reservation Hydrographic Survey Report |
| December 2019 |
Final Navajo Reservation HSR Final Navajo Reservation Hydrographic Survey Report |
Hopi Tribe
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| December 2008 |
Hopi Indian Reservation Preliminary Hydrographic Survey Report Hopi Indian Reservation Preliminary Hydrographic Survey Report |
| December 2015 |
Hopi Indian Reservation Final Hydrographic Survey Report Hopi Indian Reservation Final Hydrographic Survey Report |
Pueblo of Zuni
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| September 1994 |
Preliminary HSR on Indian Lands Preliminary HSR on Indian Lands |
San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| September 1994 |
Preliminary HSR on Indian Lands Preliminary HSR on Indian Lands |
Other Reports
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
| May 2012 |
Report Concerning Federal Reserved Water Rights for the San Pedro Riparian Nation Conservation Area Report Concerning Federal Reserved Water Rights for the San Pedro Riparian Nation Conservation Area |
| February 2014 |
Report Concerning Federal Reserved Water Rights Claim for Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Area Report Concerning Federal Reserved Water Rights Claim for Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Area |
| June 2010 |
Land Ownership Report for the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area Land Ownership Report for the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area |
Interactive Maps & Data Downloads
Interactive Maps
Subflow Zone Delineation for Verde And San Pedro Watersheds
Statement of Claimant Locator
Data Downloads
The following datasets are intended for GIS professionals and require specific GIS software platforms.
2023 PROPOSED Subflow Zone Delineation for the remainder of the Verde River Watershed.
2021 PROPOSED Subflow Zone Delineation for Verde River Mainstem and Sycamore Canyon Subwatershed.
2017 APPROVED Subflow Zone Delineation for San Pedro River Watershed
ADWR's Case Filings
CV 6417 In Re The Little Colorado River Adjudication
CV 6417-033-9005R In re Reporting of Diversion Information and Other Objections
CV 6417-201 In Re Hopi Tribe Priority
CV 6417-300 In Re Navajo Nation
2018 08-31 ADWR Status Report- 2018 10-31 ADWR Response to Navajo Nation De Minimis Motion
- 2018 10-26 ADWR Notice of Filing Report Requested by Special Master
- 2018 12-21 ADWR Request for Extension of Time- Preliminary HSR
- 2019 03-08 Notice of Filing Preliminary Navajo Reservation HSR
- 2019 08-02 ADWR 120-Day Notice of Final HSR
- 2019 12-02 ADWR Notice of Final Navajo Reservation HSR
- 2019 12-03 ADWR Notice of Errata
- 2022 03-01 ADWR Report re Timeline
CV 6417-400 In Re Lower Little Colorado River Subwatershed
- 2019 05-10 ADWR Request for Extension
- 2019 07-30 LLCR Technical Report Notice and Objection packet
- 2019 12-16 ADWR Notice of Filing Progress Report
- 2020 03-30 ADWR Notice of Filing Responses to Comments and Objections to ADWR's Technical Report
- 2020 11-30 ADWR Request for Extension
- 2021 08-31 ADWR Request for Clarification
- 2021 09-23 ADWR Report on Format for De Minimis Abstracts
- 2022 05-25 ADWR Status Report
W1-103 In re San Pedro Subflow Technical Report
- 2015 04-23 First Cone of Depression Progress Report
- 2016 01-28 Second Cone of Depression Progress Report
- 2016 04-04 Third Cone of Depression Progress Report
- 2016 07-11 Fourth Cone of Depression Progress Report
- 2017 01-06 Notice of Revised Filing Date for Demonstration Project Report
- 2017 01-27 ADWR Demonstration Project Report: De Minimis Assessment & Cone of Depression Test Methodolgy
- 2017 02-01 Notice of Errata Concerning Demonstration Project Report
- 2017 05-12 Demonstration Project Report- Response to Cone of Depression Test Comments
- 2017 09-14 ADWR Clarification of Comments During September 13, 2017 Status Conference
- 2018 05-31 Objections to Special Master's Draft Report on ADWR's Demonstration Project Report: Cone of Depression Test Methodology
- 2018 06-18 Correction of Comments During June 14 2018 Hearing
- 2018 12-06 ADWR Initial Subflow Depletion Test Report
- 2018 11-15 Request for Extension of Time to File Initial Report on Subflow Depletion Testing
- 2018 10-17 Response to State Law Parties Notice of Clarification
- 2018 08-30 Notice of Filing Small Wells Analysis Report with Report
- 2018 07-09 Request for Additional Time to File Small Wells Analysis Report
- 2019 04-24 ADWR Notice of Meeting
- 2019 05-03 ADWR Response to Comments to Subflow Depletion Test Report
- 2019 05-13 ADWR Objections to SM Report on Methodology for Determination of Cone of Depression
- 2019 05-30 ADWR Response to ASLD Motion to Strike
- 2019 06-03 ADWR Response to FMC Motion to Strike
- 2019 06-27 ADWR Subflow Depletion Meeting Report
- 2019 12-06 ADWR Notice of Filing Report
- 2019 12-09 ADWR Notice of Errata
- 2020 01-27 ADWR Notice of Meeting
- 2020 03-16 ADWR Notice of Cancellation of Meeting
- 2020 05-28 ADWR Status Report-Rescheduling Meeting
- 2020 07-06 ADWR Meeting Report
- 2020 12-15 ADWR's Notice of Witnesses
- 2021 06-30 ADWR Closing Brief
- 2022 04-21 ADWR Request for Continuance
- 2023 01-10 ADWR Notice of Meeting
- 2023 01-25 ADWR Meeting Report
W1-106 In re Subflow Technical Report- Verde River Watershed
- 2021 04-02 ADWR Request for Extension of Time
- 2021 06-01 ADWR Reply to SRP Response and Motion for Reconsideration
- 2021 07-02 ADWR Response to New Proposals Made by SRP and US re Subflow Zone Report Deadlines
- 2021 12-03 ADWR Notice of Filing Technical Report on De Minimis Domestic Use
- 2022 02-25 ADWR Response to Questions re De Minimis Report
- 2022 03-23 ADWR Request for Extension
- 2022 04-04 ADWR Response to SRP Proposal
- 2022 04-27 ADWR Request for Clarification
- 2022 06-29 ADWR Request for Expedited Consideration of Form of Notice
- 2022 08-29 ADWR Notice of Filing De Minimis Report
- 2023 01-12 ADWR Request to Modify Schedule
- 2023 02-07 ADWR Reply re Request to Modify Schedule
- 2023 04-28 ADWR Notice of Publication of the Subflow Zone Delineation Report for the Remainder of the Verde River Watershed
W1-11-1174 In Re PWR 107 Claims
W1-11-1344 In re Craig McDowell and Craig McDowell Manufacturing Co.
W1-11-1691 In Re Eli and Ila Fenn
W1-11-1898 In Re Eldon J. and Shirley Barney
W1-11-19 In Re Sands Group of Cases
W1-11-1910 In Re Leland K. and Paula F. Barney
W1-11-1912 In Re Chester L. Brown
W1-11-232 In re San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area
W1-11-2401 In re Mercer Group of Cases
W1-11-2421 In Re Magma Copper- De Minimis
W1-11-2428 In Re Magma Copper- Mining
W1-11-2503 In Re Magma Copper- Irrigation
W1-11-2590 In re ASLD-Bingham Sacaton Ranch I
W1-11-2665 In Re Redfield Canyon State Claims
W1-11-2670 In re ASLD- Saguaro Juniper Corporation
W1-11-2690 In Re Pima County Flood Control District
W1-11-2694 In Re Pima County Irrigation
W1-11-2696 In Re Bayless and Berkalew
W1-11-2709 In re Jack K. Hughes, et al
W1-11-2726 In re David and Fay Gard
W1-11-2760 In re ASLD-Woodling II
W1-11-2798 In re ASARCO- Diversion
W1-11-2801 In re ASARCO- Irrigation
W1-11-2805 In re State Land Department - Paul L. Sale Investment Co.
W1-11-2844 In re ASLD-John and Mary Lou Smith
W1-11-3107 In re Paul L. Sale Invest. Co.
- 2019 06-12 Notice of Filing Map
- 2020 01-17 ADWR Notice of Filing Report
- 2021 09-10 ADWR Notice of Filing Amended Watershed File Report
- 2022 05-20 ADWR Request for Extension
- 2022 06-10 ADWR Response to SRP Motion Concerning S&T and Change-in-use Applications
- 2022 06-28 ADWR Supplemental Legal Authority
W1-11-3119 In re Augustine and Martha Avechuco
W1-11-3300 In Re Arizona Chapter of the Nature Conservancy- Aravaipa Creek De Minimis
W1-11-3301 In Re The Nature Conservancy- Instream Flow
W1-11-3310 In Re Larsen
W1-11-3311 In Re Luebbermann
W1-11-3312 In Re Brighthawk LLC
W1-11-3313 In Re Barassi
W1-11-3315 In Re Young
W1-11-3317 In re Lester Young
W1-11-3318 In Re Bowers
W1-11-3322 In re Ouillette
W1-11-3324 In Re Joel William Rubin
W1-11-3325 In re SLD-Magoffin I
W1-11-3326 In Re Lackner
W1-11-3329 In Re BLM- Nature Conservancy Leased Land
W1-11-3338 In re SLD-Magoffin II
W1-11-3356 In re SLD-Withrow Ranch, Inc.
W1-11-3367 In re Magoffin II
W1-11-3377 In Re The Nature Conservancy- Salazar Tapia Ditch (Consolidated)
W1-11-3378 In Re Alex Pacheco and Christine Salazar Pacheco
W1-11-3379 In Re Miguel Miranda et al
W1-11-3380 In Re Sandra Fraser, Daniel and Cindy Tapia, and Norma Luepke
W1-11-3385 In re Elizabeth Hilliard
W1-11-3386 In re Ruben and Delta Bryce
W1-11-3394 In Re W.H. Claridge
W1-11-3395 In re Karen C. LeCount
W1-11-3407 In re SLD-Magoffin III
W1-11-3422 In re David T. & Marilyn Lee et al.
W1-W4 In Re Gila River Adjudication- Consolidated
Tribal Water Settlements
White Mountains Apache Tribe
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
|
White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Documents White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Documents |
|
|
White Mountain Apache Tribe Technical Assessment White Mountain Apache Tribe Technical Assessment |
San Carlos Apache Tribe
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
|
San Carlos Apache Tribe Settlement Agreement San Carlos Apache Tribe Settlement Agreement |
Gila River Indian Community
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
|
Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) Settlement- Technical Assessment Gila River Indian Community Settlement- Technical Assessment |
|
|
Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) Settlement- Maintenance Area (GMA) Report 2008 Gila River Maintenance Area (GMA) Report |
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
|
Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Settlement Agreement Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Settlement Agreement |
Fort McDowell Yavapai
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
|
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Settlement Agreement 1993 Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Settlement Agreement, 1993 Signed Judgment |
Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe
| Published | Title |
|---|---|
|
Yavapai-Prescott Tribe Settlement Agreement Yavapai-Prescott Settlement Agreement, 1995 Signed Judgment |
Tohono O'odham Nation