As a result of high growth rates, physically and legally limited water supplies, drought, economic constraints and relatively little comprehensive water resource planning and management, water supplies are stressed in some parts of Arizona.  The Arizona Department of Water Resources has collected and synthesized currently available water-related information for the State of Arizona into a “water atlas”, organized by planning area.  For a summary of statewide water demand on average in 2001-2005 and in 2006 click here.

The Arizona Water Atlas is organized into seven Planning Areas containing a total of 51 groundwater basins.  Each planning area is discussed in a separate volume. Volume 1 is an executive summary and includes the methodology used to create the Arizona Water Atlas. The final volume will provide a water sustainability evaluation for each basin.  Arizona Water Atlas Volumes 1-8 were released as drafts for public comment and review between 2006-2008.  The Department is has updated Volumes 2-8 and released them in a more interactive web format.  Volume 1 is available through the link below.  Pdf versions of all volumes are available at the bottom of this page.

The Arizona Water Atlas includes:

• Executive Summary (Volume 1)
• Eastern Plateau (Volume 2)
• Southeastern Arizona (Volume 3)
• Upper Colorado River (Volume 4)
• Central Highlands (Volume 5)
• Western Plateau (Volume 6)
• Lower Colorado River (Volume 7)
• Active Management Areas (Volume 8)
• Arizona Water Sustainability Evaluation (Volume 9) (available 2011)

This web page is organized by Planning Area and Groundwater Basin.  Use the map below to find your planning area, then click on the map or the planning area navigation bar above. (Note, only final Water Atlas volumes will be available via the upper navigation bar).  For a list of major communities by planning area and basin click here.  As they are finalized a pdf of each Volume will be available at the bottom of this page.  Individual basins can be found for download on the homepage for each planning area.

Arizona Planning Areas