Assigned to NR FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.C.M. 2003
stormwater; groundwater; recharge; urging support
Purpose
Urges the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and the Arizona State Land
Department (ASLD) to invest in groundwater recharge infrastructure in rural communities.
Background
The ASLD must administer all laws relating to lands owned by, belonging to and under the
control of Arizona. The State Land Commissioner is the executive officer of the ASLD. ADWR
is established to manage and regulate Arizona's water resources, and the Director of ADWR must
administer all laws relating to groundwater (A.R.S. §§ 37-131 and 45-105). In 2016, the
Legislature passed S.B. 1399, directing the State Land Commissioner and the Director of ADWR
to work together to develop a report that identifies potential water storage sites on State Trust land.
ADWR identified 331 potential underground storage sites (ADWR: Potential Water Storage Sites).
ADWR uses groundwater flow modelling to simulate past, present and future impacts of
water use on aquifers. ADWR has developed regional, numeric groundwater models to simulate
Arizona's water supply and future demands. Components of the modeled area including pumpage,
recharge, evapotranspiration, streamflow and flow, across model boundaries are simulated within
each regional model developed by ADWR (ADWR: Modeling Basics).
Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) is an independent state authority
established to help meet Arizona's existing and future water needs. In 2022, the Legislature
expanded the powers and duties of WIFA and restructured state-funded WIFA funds to expand
fund eligibility and fund purposes (Laws 2022, Ch. 366). These purposes include developing or
facilitating water conservation, reuse and augmentation projects. WIFA may accomplish its
purpose individually, through collaboration or by partnering with public or private entities (A.R.S.
§ 49-1205). The Water Supply Development Revolving Fund is administered by WIFA to provide
low-cost financing, grants and technical assistance for water supply development projects outside
of Arizona’s major urban centers (WIFA).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. States that the Legislature prays that:
a) ADWR and the ASLD focus on increasing groundwater recharge infrastructure projects
by:
i. supporting WIFA and the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund; and FACT SHEET
H.C.M. 2003
Page 2
ii. developing the 331 sites that were identified by ADWR and ASLD on state trust land
for groundwater recharge infrastructure projects; and
b) when private and public parties take proactive steps to increase groundwater recharge
through groundwater recharge infrastructure projects, ADWR and the ASLD take into
consideration the increased groundwater supply from the projects in the models and
decisions regarding the future health of the basin.
2. Directs the Secretary of State to transmit a copy of this memorial to:
a) the Director of ADWR;
b) the State Land Commissioner;
c) each natural resource conservation district;
d) each county flood control district;
e) each county board of supervisors; and
f) each municipal separate storm sewer system in Arizona.
House Action
NREW 1/21/25 DP 5-3-0-2
3
rd
Read 2/12/25 29-30-1
3
rd
Read* 2/18/25 33-27-0
*on reconsideration
Prepared by Senate Research
March 7, 2025
SB/SN/slp