This paper will focus on the status of water management in Arizona under the Groundwater Management Act, with particular attention to the economic implications of policy decisions. How Arizona decision makers have repeatedly rejected recommendations that increase the price of scarce groundwater and have limited consideration of the environmental implications of water use will be addressed. Included in the paper will be a discussion of Arizona policy innovations, including the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District as a mechanism for meeting the Assured Water Supply provisions, and the state’s intra-state and inter-state water storage and banking programs. The approaches to water management of fast-growing, groundwater dependent regions wishing to preserve riparian areas will also be addressed. Finally, some issues related to private versus public provision of water in Arizona will be considered.
UCOWR Conference