Skip to main content
Arizona Department of Water Resources Logo

Arizona Department of Water Resources

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

Search form

  • About Us
    • ADWR Strategic Plan and Annual Reports
    • Mission - Values
    • History of the Department
    • Arizona Water Facts
    • Small Business Bill of Rights
    • Career Opportunities
  • How Do I?
    • Apply For
      • Change of Ownership
      • New Well
      • Permit
      • Statement of Claimant, Assignments, Amendments
      • Well Driller's License
      • Funding Opportunities
    • Locate
      • A Surface Water Right
      • A Well
      • Statement of Claiment
    • Get Data
      • AAWS Interactive Map
      • ADWR Dictionary
      • GIS Data Center
      • Data Queries
      • Groundwater Levels
      • Imaged Records
      • Land Subsidence in Arizona
      • Wells 55
      • Wells Data
    • Pay For
      • Annual Report Fee
      • Invoice
    • Report
      • Complaint or Concerns
      • Water Use
      • Share or Report a Water Level - 3rd Party Water Level Data Portal
      • Report Dry Well Data
    • Find Info On
      • Arizona Reconsultation Process
      • Conservation
      • Colorado River Shortage Preparedness
      • Drought Contingency Planning
      • Laws, Rules, & Policies
      • Public Records Request
      • Pinal Groundwater Supply Updates
      • Public Meetings
      • Public Notices
      • Water Levels
      • Wells
      • Legislative Affairs
      • Lower Hassayampa Sub-Basin Groundwater Model Report
  • ADWR News
    • ADWR News
    • Blog
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Archive
  • Home
  • Programs
    • Active Management Areas
    • Adjudications
    • Assured and Adequate Water Supply
    • Colorado River Management
    • Community Water Systems
    • Conservation
    • Dam Safety
    • Drought
    • Engineering
    • Floodplain Management and Flood Warning
    • Governor’s Water Policy Council
    • Hydrology
    • Irrigation Non-Expansion Area
    • Laws, Rules, & Policies
    • Legislative Affairs
    • Management Plans Work Group
    • Recharge
    • Statewide Planning
    • Rural Programs
    • Surface Water
    • Wells and Permitting
    • Water Banking Authority
    • Water Protection Fund
  • Online Services
    • Annual Water Use Report
    • Application Forms
    • Hydrology Publications (eLibrary)
    • Land Subsidence Maps
    • ADWR Live Queries and Reports
    • Recharge Long-Term Storage Credit Balance
    • Imaged Records
    • eNOI
    • Online Notice of Well Capping
    • Pump Installation Completion Report
    • Online Driller's Log
    • Online Payments
    • Change of Ownership
    • Assured & Adequate Water Supply Pending Applications
    • Water Atlas
    • Surface Water Online Notices
    • Interactive Maps
      • Assured and Adequate Water Supply Interactive Map
      • Community Water System (CWS) Interactive Map
      • Groundwater Site Inventory (GWSI)
      • Well Registry Data (55)
      • GIS Data
  • Contact Us
    • Concerns
    • Human Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Public Records Request
    • Public Media Request

SE Arizona Information

SE Arizona Information

Finding a Balance - Water Challenges Facing Southeast Arizona

In September 2014, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) began working with water users in southeast Arizona on potential water management strategies to benefit all water users in the area.  While the most populated areas of the state are subject to stringent groundwater management, have mandatory water conservation requirements and have access to diverse water supply portfolios, most of rural Arizona relies exclusively on groundwater as its primary water source and lacks comprehensive groundwater management regulation. 

The lack of targeted groundwater management along with the effects of an ongoing 15-year drought, can result in water supplies being more stressed in some areas of rural Arizona.  For these reasons, water users in southeast Arizona have expressed interest in developing water management strategies that will ensure that the necessary water supplies are available to meet their current and future water demands. 

Background

During the summer of 2014, ADWR began to receive concerns about declining water levels in private residential wells and in some cases, reports of wells going dry, in southeast Arizona.  As a result of declining groundwater levels, some individuals and representatives of groundwater users have expressed interest in developing water management practices for the area with the hopes of slowing the water level declines.  

ADWR believes that in order to develop the best water management solutions for the area, it is important to first conduct an analysis of the water conditions in the area.  Therefore, the ADWR Director ordered ADWR field services staff to conduct a detailed inventory (sweep) of water level conditions throughout wells in the Willcox and Douglas Basins and the San Simon Valley Sub-basin. 

Prior to conducting the well sweep, ADWR established a web-based reporting portal whereby individuals impacted by wells going dry could report those incidents online.  Those wishing to volunteer their well to be part of the investigation were also encouraged to complete the survey. 

To date, over 60 responses to the survey have been received from well owners and concerned citizens.  The results of the survey indicate that many domestic wells have been impacted by declining water levels in the Willcox, Cochise, Sunsites, Pearce and Sunzona areas (see link below).  Many wells have been deepened or replaced, and there has been almost universal concern expressed about water conditions from survey participants.  

ADWR appreciates the cooperation of everyone who has responded to the survey.  

Please note that ADWR was not able to visit every well that was volunteered to be part of the well survey. 

Link to Survey Results

Report that your well has gone dry.

ADWR’s Data Collection Efforts

ADWR staff has completed the well sweep in the Willcox area.  Preliminary data from the well sweep is available. 

Staff will complete the sweeps in the Douglas and San Simon areas throughout the months of February and March.  Results of the well sweeps will be included in a monitoring report that will be published in the summer of 2015.  The information collected will provide a comprehensive update on groundwater conditions throughout the area and will assist in future decision making and water planning in the region.  Once completed, the report will be published on ADWR’s website.

Groundwater Management 

Currently, there are only two water management tools available that were designed to directly manage groundwater withdrawal and use.  These tools are Active Management Areas (AMAs) and Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas (INAs).  Groundwater withdrawn from inside of an AMA can be subject to withdrawal fees, metering, annual reporting, conservation requirements, and other provisions, while groundwater withdrawn form inside of an INA can be subject to metering and reporting. The process to establish a new AMA or INA can be initiated by the local community; however, at this time ADWR does not believe that either of these tools would be the best solution for the Willcox Basin.  

ADWR staff has been meeting with local water users to discuss water management strategies for the area.  ADWR plans to continue engaging in these meetings until an effective groundwater management approach for the area has been developed.

Information on Substantial Capital Investment

Provided below are examples of documentation previously used by ADWR to make determinations on applications for the consideration of substantial capital investment in granting a Notice of Groundwater Authority ("60") in an INA or Certificate of Grandfathered Groundwater Right ("78") in an AMA.  These examples are being provided for informational purposes only.

Attachment A 60-200083  60-203030
Attachment B 60-201080 60-203129
  60-201104 78-109097
  60-201111 78-116092

Additional Information

Groundwater Flow Model of the Willcox Basin Executive Summary

Groundwater Flow Model of the Willcox Basin Report

New Management Area: Background, History and Key Elements (September 2, 2015)

Willcox Groundwater Conservation Area: Concept Summary (August 28, 2015)

New Management Area: Proposal Summary (August 21, 2015)

New Groundwater Concept Proposal

Overview on Active Management Areas and Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas

Procedures for Creating a Subsequent Active Management Area or Irrigation Non-Expansion Area

Information on Cropped Areas in Willcox

Summary of Agricultural Water Use and Acreage in Willcox, Douglas and San Simon Areas

Update on ADWR Well Survey (January 30, 2015)

 

PDF icon WillcoxGroundwaterConservationAreaBackgroundGenericStructure.pdf

waves.png

Waves icon
  • Overview
  • Governor's Water Augmentation Council
    • Council Members
    • Documents
  • Planning Area Process
  • Meetings Calendar
  • Contact Us

 

telephone-icon.png

Telephone icon
  • (602) 771-4782

 

Follow Us

Contact Info

Arizona Department of Water Resources
1110 W Washington Street Suite 310
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Find in Google Maps
Phone: 602.771.8500 | Fax: 602.771.8689
File a complaint

Newsletter Subscription

Sign up to get breaking news and information about Arizona’s water industry!

Lists*

© 1980 - 2023 Arizona Department of Water Resources - Statements & Policies | Site Map