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Arizona Department of Water Resources

Protecting & enhancing Arizona’s water supplies for current and future generations.

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Active Management Area Overview

To file your 2022 Annual Report, please click here.

If you need in-person assistance, we are available by appointment only. Please call 602-771-8585 to schedule an appointment.

Active Management Areas (AMAs)


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AMAs and INA in 2023

The 1980 Arizona Groundwater Code recognized the need to aggressively manage the state’s finite groundwater resources to support the growing economy. Areas with heavy reliance on mined groundwater were identified and designated as Active Management Areas (AMAs). The five AMAs (Prescott, Phoenix, Pinal, Tucson, and Santa Cruz) are subject to regulation pursuant to the Groundwater Code. Each AMA carries out its programs in a manner consistent with these goals while considering and incorporating the unique character of each AMA and its water users.

In the Phoenix, Prescott, and Tucson AMAs, the primary management goal is safe-yield by the year 2025. Safe-yield is accomplished when no more groundwater is being withdrawn than is being replaced annually.

In the Pinal AMA, where the economy is primarily agricultural, the management goal is to preserve that economy for as long as feasible, while considering the need to preserve groundwater for future non-irrigation uses. 

In the Santa Cruz AMA, the management goal is to maintain a safe-yield condition in the AMA and to prevent local water tables from experiencing long-term declines. 

Learn more about water use and management in the AMAs. 

 

Management Plans

To assist in achieving the AMA management goals, a series of five management plans are to be prepared between 1980 and 2025 for each AMA.  These plans contain progressively more rigorous management requirements for agricultural, municipal and industrial water users. 

First Management Plan

Second Management Plan

Third Management Plan

Fourth Management Plan

Fifth Management Plan

Management plans for each Active Management Area reflect the evolution of the Groundwater Code, moving Arizona toward its long-term water management goals. The plans include mandatory conservation programs for all persons withdrawing, distributing or receiving groundwater designed to achieve reductions in withdrawals of groundwater.

Application for Administrative Review

Application for Variance

Groundwater Users Advisory Council (GUAC)

Each AMA has a five-member advisory council appointed by the Governor as established by the Groundwater Code. Members are appointed for six-year terms to represent groundwater users in their respective AMA. Each Groundwater Users Advisory Council provides advice and recommendations to the AMA Director on groundwater management programs and policies within the AMA.

Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas (INAs)

The 1980 Groundwater Management Act established two initial Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas - the Joseph City INA and the Douglas INA (now the Douglas AMA as of 2022). The Harquahala INA was subsequently created in 1981 and the Hualapai Valley INA in 2022. INAs carry restrictions on bringing in new irrigated acreage & all owners of irrigation groundwater withdrawal authorities must report their water use to ADWR if the water was used during the calendar year. The three INAs are administered by ADWR AMA staff.  

Learn more about water use and management in the INAs.

 

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  • Overview
  • Douglas AMA
  • Phoenix AMA
  • Pinal AMA
  • Prescott AMA
  • Santa Cruz AMA
  • Tucson AMA
  • Harquahala INA
  • Hualapai Valley INA
  • Joseph City INA
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  • [email protected]
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Contact Info

Arizona Department of Water Resources
1110 W Washington Street Suite 310
Phoenix, AZ 85007
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Phone: 602.771.8500 | Fax: 602.771.8689
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