Landowners may trade irrigation rights for groundwater credits

Eligible landowners may apply to trade a permanent irrigation right for groundwater savings credits. This applies to land in the Phoenix or Pinal active management area that may legally be irrigated under an irrigation grandfathered right. The right must meet use, reporting and account requirements, and the land must have been irrigated in at least three of the prior five years. The director calculates credits using area-specific rates and past water use.

The director must issue a temporary groundwater irrigation permit when an applicant requests one with the application and relinquishes the right. The permit is for the holder of groundwater savings credits and the land that qualified for irrigation under the relinquished right. The permit allows irrigation on the land covered by the former right under the same applicable rules and limits. A permit ends after two years unless it ends sooner for a listed event, such as use of the credits in a water supply approval. The permit ends two years after credits are issued, unless a listed event ends it sooner.

Municipal providers and certain homeowner associations may not use specified groundwater for certain features, and associations may not require those features. These rules apply on relinquishment acres and nearby land using groundwater or recovered stored water under the specified credit program. Restrictions cover non-recreational turf, water parks and decorative water features, with a stated exception for some features under section 45-132. The water-use restriction applies to providers and associations using the specified groundwater; the association rule also bars minimum turf requirements and certain installation or filling requirements.