The Ag-to-Urban Program will become effective on September 26, 2025.
The Arizona Department of Water Resources will hold a public information presentation on the Ag-to-Urban program for potential applicants on September 18, 2025, at 1:00 PM. More information is available on the public meeting calendar.
Important Dates
With the passage and Governor's signature of SB1611, the Ag-to-Urban (A2U) Program was created. This law will become effective on September 26, 2025. The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) will hold a public information presentation on the Ag-to-Urban program for potential applicants on September 18, 2025, at 1:00 PM.
Introduction to the A2U Program
In Active Management Areas (AMAs), agricultural water users with “irrigation grandfathered rights” (IGFRs) have the right to pump groundwater to irrigate their land. Under the A2U program, eligible IGFR holders in the Phoenix and Pinal AMAs can voluntarily relinquish their pumping rights in exchange for Groundwater Savings Credits (“Credits”) that can be applied towards the physical availability requirement of the 100-year Assured Water Supply Program. Other Assured Water Supply criteria (legal availability, continuous availability, financial capability, water quality, and consistency with the management goal and plan) will still apply. Certain conservation measures, a model review requirement, and well location and water usage restrictions will also apply.
| Title | Date | Meeting Materials | Meeting Recording |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ag to Urban Public Information Presentation | Thu, Sep 18 2025, 1pm |
|
Meeting Recording |
Under the Ag-to-Urban (A2U) program, a landowner may restore an Irrigation Grandfathered Right (IGFR) that has been relinquished, if certain conditions are met (A.R.S. § 45-465.05(N)).
An IGFR may be restored if the associated groundwater savings credits (GSCs) have not been:
- Pledged to a certificate of assured water supply, or
- Pledged or applied to a designation of assured water supply
If these conditions are met, the landowner may apply to ADWR to restore the IGFR.
If approved, the IGFR will be restored to its original conditions, including the flexibility account balance at the time of relinquishment.
Application to Restore a Relinquished Irrigation Grandfathered Right form to request restoration is available under the “Documents” tab.
Yes. Under the terms of the law establishing the Program, ADWR must adopt rules by June 30, 2026, to set licensing time frames for issuing Credits under the Program and to develop a summary process to apply Credits to Designations of Assured Water Supply.
Yes. SB1611 included a clause stating that it intends for ADWR to accept and process applications for Credits under the Program before it adopts the rules required under the Act.
SB1611 has been chaptered under the 57th Legislature, Session Law Chapter 252. You can read it for yourself.
Yes. You may submit questions to the dedicated ADWR A2U email at [email protected]