Tag: groundwater

ADWR Director finds active management practices in the Willcox Basin are necessary

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         December 20, 2024

CONTACT: Doug MacEachern & Shauna Evans

PHONE: 602.771.8507 or 602.771.8079

ADWR Director finds active management practices in the Willcox Basin are necessary

PHOENIX- The Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources has determined that the Willcox Groundwater Basin meets the criteria for designation of an Active Management Area (AMA) as set forth in A.R.S. § 45-412(A).

Those criteria include:

  • Active management practices are necessary to preserve the existing supply of groundwater – the area’s only dependable water source – for future needs; and
  • Land subsidence or fissuring is endangering property or potential groundwater storage capacity.

As a result of careful analysis of data related to hydrologic conditions in the Willcox Basin, the statutory criteria are met.

“This decision by me goes to the heart of our State’s landmark 1980 groundwater protection legislation which invests in the ADWR Director the duty to take necessary steps to defend our groundwater supplies for future generations,” said Director Tom Buschatzke.

“As my staff has made clear in public hearings held in Willcox and in response to comments on our presentations from members of the public, the hydrologic conditions in the basin meet the statutory requirements.”

The Willcox Groundwater Basin AMA is the seventh AMA in the state and is the first to be created by a decision of the ADWR Director as authorized in A.R.S. § 45-414. It is the second AMA to be created in the last two years.

The Douglas AMA came into being as a result of a November 8, 2022 vote by the region’s residents. That AMA was designated on December 1, 2022.

The Director’s decision follows a substantial public process, including a public meeting on September 26 to provide information on hydrologic conditions and to answer questions from residents.

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 45-413, the Department then held a public hearing in Willcox on November 22, 2024. At that hearing, the Department presented factual data related to hydrologic conditions in the Basin, including data on water level measurements that the Department collected from monitoring wells in the Basin, land subsidence data, and earth fissure maps and photos.

The Department also received oral comments and evidence at the November public hearing and accepted written comments and evidence. In total, 38 people provided oral comments and evidence. The Department also received 423 written comments and evidence.

The boundaries of the Willcox AMA encompass the entire Willcox Groundwater Basin. The Basin is generally located in the northern Sulfur Springs Valley and is the entire surface watershed area that contributes to Willcox Playa, plus the upper watersheds of Leslie Creek and Rucker Canyon that lie east of the Swisshelm Mountains in the Whitewater Draw watershed.

The only dependable water source in the Basin is groundwater, which is used for agricultural, domestic, and municipal water supply.

Additional information can be found on ADWR’s website at: azwater.gov/ama/willcox-ama

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The Arizona Department Of Water Resources To Hold A Public Hearing On The Proposed Active Management Area Within The Willcox Groundwater Basin

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         October 23, 2024

The Arizona Department Of Water Resources To Hold A Public Hearing On The Proposed Active Management Area Within The Willcox Groundwater Basin

PHOENIX- Today, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) published a notice that it will hold a public hearing to present factual data and receive comments and evidence on whether the Director should designate an active management area within the boundaries of the Willcox Groundwater Basin in Cochise and Graham Counties (Proposed AMA).

An informational session was held on September 26, 2024, to provide information about the status of the Willcox Groundwater Basin, including hydrologic conditions and management options.

The hearing will be held at the Willcox Community Center on Friday, November 22, 2024, beginning at 1:00 P.M.

Written comments not submitted at the hearing described above must be received no later than 5:00 P.M. on November 22, 2024, by mail or hand-delivery. Electronic or faxed submissions must be submitted prior to midnight on November 22, 2024, to:

Sharon Scantlebury
Docket Supervisor
Arizona Department of Water Resources
1110 W. Washington, Suite 310
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 771-8686 (fax)
sscantlebury@azwater.gov

Additional information can be found on ADWR’s website at: https://www.azwater.gov/find-info-on/how-do-i/willcox-groundwater-basin.  

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Arizona Department of Water Resources field hydrologists conducting “basin sweep” to collect water level measurements in the NW Groundwater Basins: Virgin River, Grand Wash, Shivwits Plateau, Kanab Plateau, Paria, and Coconino Plateau Basins (known mostly as the Arizona Strip region, not including Peach Springs Basin)

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PHOENIX – Beginning the week of March 11, 2024, and scheduled to continue for multiple months, Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) field services staff will be making an extensive effort to measure water levels in wells in the NW Groundwater Basins: Virgin River, Grand Wash, Shivwits Plateau, Kanab Plateau, Paria, and Coconino Plateau Basins.  ADWR’s objective is to measure water levels at hundreds of wells in these groundwater basins. This survey of wells – or basin “sweep,” as it is known – was last conducted by the USGS in 1976 for the Grand Wash, Shivwits Plateau, Kanab Plateau, Paria Basins.  ADWR last conducted a sweep in the Virgin River Basin in 1991 and Coconino Plateau Basin in 2004.

The Arizona Strip area has been identified as a critical area that has not had a basin sweep conducted recently (see ADWR publication, Hydrologic Map Series (HMS), Water Level Change Map Series (WLCMS), and Basin Sweep Assessment Report ADWR Basins and Sub-Basins, (2009). 

The data collected will be analyzed and used to obtain a comprehensive overview of the groundwater conditions and used to support scientific and water management planning efforts. Data collected will be used for several purposes, including:

  • Analysis of water-level trends
  • Groundwater modeling
  • Water-level change maps
  • Hydrologic reports
  • Water resource planning and management

This basin sweep covers an area generally in the northwestern portion of the state from the Virgin River and Virgin River Mountains, including the Grand Canyon – Parashant NM, north and south rims of the Grand Canyon NP, extending east to Paria Canyon and southeast to the Colorado River west of Page, south to the San Francisco Mountains just northwest of Flagstaff, including Williams..

For more information regarding this matter, please contact Public Information Officer Shauna Evans at smevans@azwater.gov or (602) 771-8079. Details about the nature of basin sweeps and groundwater modeling can be found here.

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Arizona Department of Water Resources field hydrologists conducting “basin sweep” to collect water level measurements in the Northwest Basins Planning Area

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         February 27, 2023

Arizona Department of Water Resources field hydrologists conducting “basin sweep” to collect water level measurements in the Northwest Basins Planning Area

PHOENIX- Beginning the week of February 27th, 2023, and continuing through April 2023, Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) field services staff will make an extensive effort to measure water levels in wells in the Northwest Basins Planning Area. This survey of wells – or basin “sweep,” as it is known – was last conducted during the Spring of 2018. 

The data collected will be analyzed and used to obtain a comprehensive overview of the groundwater conditions and used to support scientific and water management planning efforts. Among others, data uses will include:

  • Analysis of water-level trends
  • Groundwater modeling
  • Water-level change maps
  • Hydrologic reports
  • Water resource planning and management.

The Northwest Basins Planning Area is located in the far northwest portion of the State and comprises the Detrital, Hualapai (Hualapai INA), Meadview, and Sacramento Valley Groundwater Basins. The Planning Area lies within Mohave County. The City of Kingman is the largest community in the Planning Area.

For more information regarding this matter, please contact Public Information Officer Shauna Evans at smevans@azwater.gov or (602) 771-8079. Details about the nature of basin sweeps and groundwater modeling can be found here. If you would like to volunteer your well for participation in this groundwater survey please contact the Hydrology Division at (602) 771-8535.

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Arizona Department of Water Resources field hydrologists conducting “basin sweep” to collect water level measurements in the Phoenix AMA

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         December 1, 2022

Arizona Department of Water Resources field hydrologists conducting “basin sweep” to collect water level measurements in the Phoenix AMA

PHOENIX- Beginning the week of December 12, 2022, and continuing through January 2023, Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) field services staff will make an extensive effort to measure water levels in wells in the Phoenix Active Management Area (AMA). This survey of wells – or basin “sweep,” as it is known – was last conducted during the winter of 2016/2017. 

The data collected will be analyzed and used to obtain a comprehensive overview of the groundwater conditions and used to support scientific and water management planning efforts. Among others, data uses will include:

  • Analysis of water-level trends
  • Groundwater modeling
  • Water-level change maps
  • Hydrologic reports
  • Water resource planning and management

This basin sweep covers an area generally in the central portion of the state and extends west of the Phoenix Metro area past Tonopah, east near the Superstition Mountain and Globe, AZ, north of New River, AZ and south to Sacaton. The Phoenix AMA consists of the following subbasins; Hassayampa, West Salt River Valley, Lake Pleasant, East Salt River Valley, Rainbow Valley, Carefree and Fountain Hills.

Map of the Phoenix AMA

For more information regarding this matter, please contact Public Information Officer Shauna Evans at smevans@azwater.gov or (602) 771-8079. Details about the nature of basin sweeps and groundwater modeling can be found here.

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Arizona Department of Water Resources field hydrologists conducting “basin sweep” to collect water level measurements in the Western Planning Area: Butler Valley, Harquahala, McMullen Valley, Ranegras Plain, and Tiger Wash Basins

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         January 5, 2022

Arizona Department of Water Resources field hydrologists conducting “basin sweep” to collect water level measurements in the Western Planning Area: Butler Valley, Harquahala, McMullen Valley, Ranegras Plain, and Tiger Wash Basins

PHOENIX – Beginning the week of January 1st, 2022, and scheduled to continue for multiple months, Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) field services staff will be making an extensive effort to measure water levels in wells in the Western Planning Area (WPA): Butler Valley, Harquahala, McMullen Valley, Ranegras Plain, and Tiger Wash Basins.  ADWR’s objective is to measure water levels at hundreds of wells in these groundwater basins. This survey of wells – or basin “sweep,” as it is known – was last conducted in winter 2016 for the WPA.  The Harquahala Irrigation Non-Expansion Area (INA) will also be included in the basin sweep as it is contained within the Harquahala Basin. 

The data collected will be analyzed and used to obtain a comprehensive overview of the groundwater conditions and used to support scientific and water management planning efforts. Data collected will be used for several purposes, including:

  • Analysis of water-level trends
  • Groundwater modeling
  • Water-level change maps
  • Hydrologic reports
  • Water resource planning and management.

This basin sweep covers an area generally in the western to southwestern portion of the State and extends east of Plomosa and Kofa Mountains, west of Big Horn, Vulture and Harquahala Mountains, north of Eagle Tail Mountains and south of Bouse Hills, Buckskin and Harcuvar Mountains. 

For more information regarding this matter, please contact Public Information Officer Shauna Evans at smevans@azwater.gov or (602) 771-8079. Details about the nature of basin sweeps and groundwater modeling can be found here.

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David Snider, long-time Pinal County leader on water issues, unexpectedly passes away

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David Snider

David Snider, whose work on water issues for his constituents in Pinal County earned him the respect and admiration of water-community leaders throughout the state, passed away early January 22 following emergency surgery.

A member of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors for two terms, Mr. Snider also was a long-standing member of the Pinal Active Management Area Groundwater Users Advisory Council.

Groundwater user advisory councils were created as part of the landmark 1980 Groundwater Management Act. There are five such councils statewide – one in each of Arizona’s five Active Management Areas.

As gubernatorial appointees to the Pinal AMA council, Mr. Snider and his colleagues on the five-member council provided advice and recommendations on the groundwater management programs and policies within the AMA. Appointed to the GUAC in 2006, Mr. Snider during that time served as both vice-chair and chair of the council.

Mr. Snider was a long-standing member of the Pinal Active Management Area Groundwater Users Advisory Council.

Mr. Snider’s involvement in Pinal-area water issues was extensive.

He served for a time on the Local Drought Impact Group in Pinal County. LDIGs are county-level groups that coordinate drought public awareness, provide impact assessment information to local and state leaders, and implement and initiate local mitigation and response options.

In addition, he also served on the Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority, a group dedicated to supporting the development of responsible, collaborative, and sustainable water planning and management in the Pinal AMA.

Mr. Snider’s dedication to his Pinal County community extended well beyond his work on water-related issues.

The City of Casa Grande library director for 26 years, also served for many years on the Casa Grande Elementary School District Governing Board in addition to his service as a county supervisor.
A fuller depiction of Mr. Snider’s community leadership can be found here

Press Release: Arizona Department of Water Resources Accepting Applications for the Groundwater Conservation Grant

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                   CONTACT: Shauna Evans

Dec. 2, 2019                                                                                          PHONE: 602.771.8079

 

Arizona Department of Water Resources Accepting Applications for the Groundwater Conservation Grant

PHOENIX- The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) is now accepting applications for the Water Management Assistance Program (WMAP) Groundwater Conservation Grant. This grant, in the sum of $2,000,000, was appropriated to the WMAP for the purpose of providing additional monies to support conservation of groundwater in Arizona’s five Active Management Areas (AMAs), pursuant to A.R.S. § 45-617 (C). Grants may be allocated to programs and projects that demonstrate the ability to conserve Arizona’s groundwater resources either directly or indirectly and are located within the five AMAs.

The deadline to submit applications is February 14, 2020, by 5 pm.

Application solicitation and the Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity may be found on the Arizona Office of Grants and Federal Resources website: https://grants.az.gov/funding-opportunities-0. Applications must be submitted through this website in order to be considered.

ADWR staff will host a grant application workshop on Tuesday, December 10th at 8:30–10:00 am at ADWR, 1110 W. Washington St., Room 3175, Phoenix, 85007. The workshop will be available via webinar as well as recorded and posted on the WMAP webpage at https://new.azwater.gov/ama/wmap, for those who are not able to attend the workshop.

For additional information, please contact Melissa Sikes, WMAP Coordinator, at (602) 771-8449 or msikes@azwater.gov.

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2019 Pinal Groundwater model released

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The “2019 Pinal Model and 100-year Assured Water Supply Projection Technical Memorandum” — an analysis of the Pinal County area’s groundwater conditions, performed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources,  is now complete and available for viewing.

The model can be viewed here.

 

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Groundwater flow model of Willcox Basin completed

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drill rig

As a result of continuing observations of groundwater level declines in the Willcox Basin, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) initiated development of a numerical groundwater flow model in late 2015.

The Willcox Basin covers an area of approximately 1,911 square miles in southeastern Arizona and is essentially a closed basin.

That modelling has been completed. Major findings of the modelling include:

• The three-year ADWR modelling project finds high rates of groundwater pumping in Willcox Basin altering the groundwater flow system “to a significant extent.”

• Evidence of the amount of groundwater removed from storage between 1940 and 2015 ranged from 4.9 million to 6.2 million acre-feet (an acre-foot equals 325,851 gallons of water, or the amount of water needed to cover an acre of land a foot deep).

• Projecting forward to simulate a period of time between 1940 and 2115, the modelling concluded a net “change in storage” – meaning, in this case, a reduction in storage – ranging from 19.8 million acre-feet to 24 million acre-feet.

• Going forward to 2115, the modelling simulated long-term “draw down” in various portions of the aquifer range from a minimum of 354 feet (in the aquifer system north of the Willcox Playa) to as much as 917 feet (in the aquifer system near Kansas Settlement).

• Both data and modelling indicate that significant declines in regional groundwater levels continue to occur.

• Based on the Willcox Model results, pre-development estimates of groundwater in storage circa 1940 ranged from 80 to 97 million acre-feet. Recent estimates of groundwater in storage (2015) range from 73 to 92 million acre-feet. Projection estimates of remaining groundwater in storage range from 57 to 77 million acre-feet. However it must be noted that a significant portion of the remaining groundwater in storage is found at considerable depth and may not practical to remove.

The Groundwater Flow Model of the Willcox Basin may be found here

An Executive Summary of the results of the Flow Model may be found here

For more information regarding this matter, please contact Sally Stewart Lee, Public Information Officer at sslee@azwater.gov  or (602) 771-8530.