Arizona Department of Water Resources—Department is behind schedule in adopting groundwater management plans for the State’s active management areas and should enhance processes for collecting or issuing some required reports

The Arizona Department of Water Resources (Department) was established to manage Arizona’s water resources and has various responsibilities related to groundwater regulation, surface water rights, and state-wide water planning. We found that the Department should adopt the remaining management plans for the State’s active management areas. Additionally, the Department should improve its collection of required reports from well owners and well drillers, follow up with potential groundwater users within the State’s irrigation nonexpansion areas to ensure required reports are submitted, and issue a statutorily required water conservation report. We also provide information on the Department’s Colorado River management responsibilities.