ADWR Dictionary

ADWR Dictionary

ADWR Dictionary

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Acre-foot (AF)

The amount of water it takes to cover one acre of land to the depth of one foot, approximately 325,851 gallons

Active management area (AMA)

A geographic area that has been designated pursuant to A.R.S.§ 45-411 as requiring active management of groundwater or, in the case of the Santa Cruz AMA, active management of any water, other than stored water, withdrawn from a well. Subsequent active management areas may be designated through local initiative or by the Director of ADWR

Adjudication

see "General Adjudication"

Agricultural water use

Water applied to two or more acres of land to produce plants or parts of plants for sale for human consumption or for use as feed for livestock, range livestock or poultry.

Alluvium

A deposit of earth, sand, and other transported matter left by water flowing over land not permanently submerged; chiefly applied to the deposits formed in river valleys and deltas. 

Alternative water supply

A water source, other than groundwater, pumped within an AMA.

Annual groundwater allotment

In an AMA, the total amount of groundwater a Grandfathered Right (GFR) holder is authorized to withdraw annually

Aquifer

A geologic formation that contains sufficient saturated materials to be capable of storing water and transmitting water in useable quantities to a well

Aquifer recharge

Water added to the aquifer through seepage and infiltration

Aquifer storage

Water stored underground for future use. Also, water stored pursuant to a permit issued under A.R.S. § 45-831.01, the Underground Water Storage, Savings and Replenishment Program

Artificial recharge

Water recharged to the aquifer through recharge projects, which may be recovered in the future based on accrued recharge credits.

Assured Water Supply

A water supply that meets all of the following criteria as defined in Rules: 1. Physical, legal and continuous availability for 100 years; 2. Meets water quality standards;  3. Demonstrated financial capability to construct the delivery system and related features 4. Consistency with the AMA’s management plan; and 5. Consistency with the AMA’s management goal

Baseflow

The part of a stream discharge that is not attributable to direct runoff from precipitation or melting snow. It is sustained by groundwater discharge and may be considered as normal day-to-day flow during most of the year.

Baseline

A surveyed line that serves as a reference to which surveys are coordinated and correlated. 

Basin fill

Unconsolidated material such as sand, gravel and silt, eroded from surrounding mountains and deposited in a valley

Basin sweep

A technique used to collect information on groundwater level conditions by measuring selected wells throughout a basin. Specific and randomly selected wells are measured to provide the best aerial and vertical coverage in the basin

Census blocks

A geographic area bounded by visible and/or invisible features shown on a map prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau. A block is the smallest geographic entity for which the Census Bureau tabulates decennial census data

Census designated place

A geographic entity that serves as the statistical counterpart of an incorporated place for the purpose of presenting census data for an area with a concentration of population, housing, and commercial structures that is identifiable by name, but is not within an incorporated place

Central Arizona Project (CAP)

The reclamation project and works authorized to bring about 1.5 million acre-feet of Colorado River water per year to Pima, Pinal and Maricopa counties.

Central Arizona Water Conservation District

The multi-county water conservation district established as a special taxing district for the purpose of contracting with the U.S. for the delivery of CAP water and the repayment of associated CAP costs