Management Plans for each active management area reflect the evolution of the Groundwater Management Code, moving Arizona toward its long-term water management goals. The plans include mandatory conservation programs for all persons withdrawing, distributing or receiving groundwater designed to achieve reductions in withdrawals of groundwater.
A series of five management plans prepared beginning in 1980 and running through 2025 contain progressively more rigorous management requirements for agricultural, municipal and industrial water users.
In 2022, as a result of the discussions of the 5MP Safe-Yield Technical Subgroup, ADWR published the Overdraft, Safe-Yield, and the Management Goals in Arizona’s Active Management Areas Report, a detailed interpretation and analysis of safe-yield. This comprehensive report includes a description of the aspects of safe-yield, how ADWR analyzes those aspects, and the status of each AMA with regards to its management goal. Although the management goal is not safe-yield in every AMA, the applicability of this analysis to other management goals is discussed in the report. The Overdraft Data Dashboard was developed as a supplement to the report, to support data transparency efforts of the department, and to allow an interactive method to stakeholders to explore the associated data.
First Management Plan
The first management plan for each AMA set forth conservation requirements to assure a dependable water supply and to protect and enhance the future of Arizona. The First Management Plans contained chapters on water resources, management strategy, conservation programs for agricultural, municipal, and industrial users; and description of a groundwater withdrawal management program and a monitoring and enforcement program.
Phoenix AMA
Pinal AMA
Prescott AMA
Tucson AMA
Second Management Plan
The Second Management Plan, adopted in 1989, is the second in a series of five management plans required by the 1980 Groundwater Management Code. The plan guided water management efforts in the Active Management Areas during the last decade of the 20th century. The conservation programs for agricultural, municipal and industrial waters users, introduced in the First Management Plan, have been strengthened; and the water resources analysis of the Active Management Areas have been revised. With the addition of two new programs - water quality assessment and management, and water supply augmentation and reuse - the Second Management Plan presents a more comprehensive water management strategy. The plan's requirements are designed to bring water users another step closer to achieving the water management objectives for the Active Management Areas.
Pinal AMA
Third Management Plan
All AMAs are currently in the third management period. (The Third Management Plans were adopted in December 1999.) ADWR is in the latter stages of completing the Fourth Management Plan (4MP), scheduled for adoption before 2020. The provisions of the 4MP will be in effect until the effective date of the Fifth Management Plan (5MP).
The Third Management Plan adopts water management programs for the Prescott, Phoenix, Pinal, Tucson and Santa Cruz Active Management Areas until the Fourth Management Plan takes effect.
Fourth Management Plan
ADWR is in the process of formulating and adopting the Fourth Management Plans (4MP), for the period 2010-2020. The AMA Groundwater Users Advisory Council meetings are the forum for public comment.
An evaluation of the management plans as of 2008 assisted the Department in the development of the Fourth Management Plan.
Phoenix AMA
Phoenix AMA Fourth Management Plan
Overview of Changes from the Third Management Plan
Application for Administrative Review
Comments on the 4MP
Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) | Rep. Rusty Bowers | City of Chandler | Dobson Ranch | EPCOR | Frank Fairbanks | Town of Gilbert | Sen. Rick Gray | Paradise Valley Country Club | Ron Rayner | Roosevelt Irrigation District | Roosevelt Water Conservation District | Salt River Project (SRP) | City of Scottsdale | Troon
COMMENTS ON THE 4MP submitted during formal comment period
Paradise Valley | Nathan Chipman-Boden | Roosevelt Irrigation District | Dobson Ranch | Moe Wakefield
OTHER ADOPTION DOCUMENTs
Monday, April 20, 2020: The March 11, 2020 Order of Adoption for the Phoenix AMA Fourth Management Plan is now effective for purposes of judicial review. The conservation requirements in that plan will go into effect on January 1, 2023.
Phoenix Fourth Management Plan Effective
Pinal AMA
The conservation programs in this plan become effective January 1, 2025.
Pinal AMA Fourth Management Plan
Overview of Changes from the Third Management Plan
Map of the Pinal Active Management Area
Pinal AMA Fourth Management Plan Hearing Transcript
Pinal 4MP Hearing, August 20, 2020
COMMENTS ON THE 4MP
David Snider | William Collings | Maricopa-Stanfield Irrigation & Drainage District | CAIDD | Arizona Water Company | ADWR Response
Letter from Speaker Bowers, Senator Kerr, & Representative Griffin | ADWR Response
COMMENTS ON THE 4MP SUBMITTED DURING FORMAL COMMENT PERIOD
Arizona Farm Bureau | Danrick Builders|Marcus Martin | Arizona Water Company | Lonnie Frost | Maricopa-Stanfield Irrigation & Drainage District | San Carlos Irrigation & Drainage District
OTHER ADOPTION DOCUMENTS
Order of Adoption of the Pinal AMA Fourth Management Plan
Summary of Hearing and Findings
MOTION FOR REHEARING OR REVIEW
Arizona Farm and Ranch Group| ADWR Decision
Central Arizona Irrigation & Drainage District | ADWR Decision
Prescott AMA
Santa Cruz AMA
The conservation programs in this plan become effective January 1, 2025.
Santa Cruz AMA Fourth Management Plan
Overview of Changes from the Third Management Plan
Map of the Santa Cruz Active Management Area
Santa Cruz AMA Fourth Management Plan Hearing Transcript
COMMENTS ON THE 4MP
OTHER ADOPTION DOCUMENTS
Order of Adoption of the Santa Cruz AMA Fourth Management Plan
Summary of Hearing and Findings
MOTION FOR REHEARING OR REVIEW
Baca Float and Sopori | ADWR Decision on Baca Float | ADWR Decision on Sopori
Tucson AMA
Tucson AMA Fourth Management Plan
Comments on the 4MP
Metro Water District | Tucson Water | PCRWRD | Tucson GUAC | U of A Water Resources Research Center
Fifth Management Plan
Fifth Management Plan 2020-2025
The 5MP for each initial AMA was adopted in 2022, and the conservation requirements in those plans will become effective on January 1, 2025. Pursuant to A.R.S. (section symbol) 45-568(C), these will remain in effect "until the legislature determines otherwise.
The Fifth Management Plan drafts below are available for informal comments.
Overview of Changes between the 4MPs and 5MPs
Application for Administrative Review
Phoenix AMA
Phoenix AMA Fifth Management Plan
Phoenix AMA Fifth Management Plan Hearing Presentation
Phoenix AMA Fifth Management Plan Hearing Recording
Phoenix AMA Fifth Management Plan Hearing Transcript
INFORMAL COMMENTS ON THE PHOENIX AMA 5MP
City of Chandler | City of Phoenix | Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) | Briarwood Country Club | Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD) | City of Scottsdale | City of Tempe | EPCOR Water | City of Avondale | Recreation Centers of Sun City | Arizona Farm Bureau Federation | Town of Gilbert | Troon | TSL Law Group | Salt River Project (SRP) | City of Glendale | City of Goodyear | City of Peoria | City of Phoenix | City of Chandler | Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District | EPCOR Water | Town of Gilbert | Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) | Apache Wells Country Club | City of Mesa | JDM Golf, LLC. | Ewing Irrigation Products Inc. | Golf Course Superintendents Association of America | Tres Rios Golf Course | Whisper Rock | Forest Highlands Golf Club| The Mirabel Club | Club Advisors
FORMAL COMMENTS ON THE PHOENIX AMA 5MP
Tres Rios | GCSAA | Whisper Rock | Ewing | Cactus and Pine | Grayhawk | JGAA | Arizona Alliance for Golf | Mirabel | Phoenix Country Club | Terravita | Club Advisors | Desert Mountain | Greater Southwest Chapter | Forest Highlands | Christine Suppes | Jeffrey Horn | Kierland | Phillip Briggs | Ron Vance | W Horn | Thomas D Jones | William Holl | Arizona Golf Association | AZLTA | JM Sawyer | Toka Sticks | J P Griffin | Trevor Finton | Allen Jones | Brian Higgins | Deanna Jones | Quarry Pines | Jesse Mueller | Jon & Stacey Grier | Nigel Spence | Prescott Golf Club | Red Mountain Ranch | Tom Cunningham | PGA Southwest Section | Steve Hart | Daryl Crawford | Eagle Mountain Golf Club | John Suppes | PVCC | Troon | USGA West Region | Dobson Ranch | Troon North | Jeff Spangler | AMWUA | ARPA | Donovan Neese | JDM | McCormick Ranch | Moe Wakefield | RCSC | Westbrook Village Golf Club
OTHER ADOPTION DOCUMENTS
Order of Adoption of the Phoenix AMA Fifth Management Plan
Summary of Hearing and Findings
MOTIONS FOR REHEARING OR REVIEW
Dobson Ranch Homeowners Association | ADWR Decision
JDM Partners LLC | ADWR Decision
Pinal AMA
Pinal AMA Fifth Management Plan
Pinal AMA Fifth Management Plan Hearing
Pinal AMA Fifth Management Plan Hearing Transcript
Summary of Hearing and Findings
INFORMAL COMMENTS ON THE PINAL AMA 5MP
Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD) | William Collings | Arizona Farm Bureau Federation | Salmon, Lewis & Weldon, P.L.C. | Global Water Resources
FORMAL COMMENTS ON THE PINAL AMA 5MP
OTHER ADOPTION DOCUMENTS
The July 26, 2022 Order of Adoption for the Pinal AMA Fifth Managment Plan is now effective for purposes of judicial review. The conservation requirements in that plan will go into effect on January 1, 2025.
Order of Adoption of the Pinal AMA Fifth Management Plan
Pinal AMA Fifth Management Plan Effective
Prescott AMA
Prescott AMA Fifth Management Plan
Prescott AMA Fifth Management Plan Hearing
Prescott AMA Fifth Management Plan Hearing Transcript
Summary of Hearing and Findings
INFORMAL COMMENTS ON THE PRESCOTT AMA 5MP
Citizens Water Advocacy Group | Town of Prescott Valley | Arizona Farm Bureau Federation | City of Prescott
FORMAL COMMENTS ON THE PRESCOTT AMA 5MP
Citizens Water Advocacy Group | Mark Holmes | City of Prescott
OTHER ADOPTION DOCUMENTS
The June 30, 2022 Order of Adoption for the Prescott AMA Fifth Managment Plan is now effective for purposes of judicial review. The conservation requirements in that plan will go into effect on January 1, 2025.
Prescott AMA Fifth Management Plan Effective
Santa Cruz AMA
Santa Cruz AMA Fifth Management Plan
Santa Cruz AMA Fifth Management Plan Hearing
INFORMAL COMMENTS ON THE SANTA CRUZ AMA 5MP
Arizona Farm Bureau Federation | TSL Law Group
FORMAL COMMENTS ON THE SANTA CRUZ AMA 5MP
OTHER ADOPTION DOCUMENTS
Order of Adoption of the Santa Cruz AMA Fifth Management Plan
Tucson AMA
Tucson AMA Fifth Management Plan
Tucson AMA Fifth Management Plan Hearing
Tucson AMA Fifth Management Plan Hearing - Modification
Tucson AMA Fifth Management Plan Hearing Transcript
INFORMAL COMMENTS ON THE TUCSON AMA 5MP
Metro Water District | Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD) | Arizona Farm Bureau Federation | Mike Block | City of Tucson| Terry Finefrock
FORMAL COMMENTS ON THE TUCSON AMA 5MP
James Sakrison | WEST Consultants, Inc. | Cynthia Merodias-Montenegro | Southern Arizona Home Builders Association | Pima County | David R. Furrey | Michael Block | ASARCO LLC | Marvin Shultz | Tucson Country Club
OTHER ADOPTION DOCUMENTS
The May 23, 2022 Order of Adoption for the Tucson AMA Fifth Management Plan is now effective for purposes of judicial review. The conservation requirements in that plan will go into effect on January 1, 2025.
Tucson AMA Fifth Management Plan Order of Adoption - Modification
September 23, 2022 Summary of Hearing and Findings
Tucson AMA Fifth Management Plan Promulgation Order - Modification
Tucson AMA Fifth Management Plan Effective
Order of Adoption of the Tucson AMA Fifth Management Plan
April 26, 2022 Summary of Hearing and Findings
Low Water Use and Drought Tolerant Plants List
ADWR Active Management Areas Low Water Use & Drought Tolerant Plant Lists:
- Tucson Active Management Area 5th Management Plan Low Water Use Plant List
- Santa Cruz Active Management Area 5th Management Plan Low Water Use Plant List
- Prescott Active Management Area 5th Management Plan Low Water Use Plant List
- Pinal Active Management Area 4th Management Plan Low Water Use Plant List
- Phoenix Active Management Area 4th Management Plan Low Water Use Plant List
- Low Water Use & Drought Tolerant Plant List APPLICATION FOR MODIFICATION