Arizona’s in-state rivers and streams, like the Salt, Verde, Gila and San Pedro, are vital sources of water for people, agriculture and ecosystems. Many of Arizona's rivers and streams are experiencing declining flows due to drought and pumping of subsurface flows.
Stream adjudications are legal proceedings to determine and catalogue who has rights to use water from a river or stream. Arizona's two stream adjudication have been ongoing for decades and parties include cities, towns, tribes, farmers, ranchers, mines, national parks, state parks, homeowners and others. Learn more about the stream adjudications and what it will take for the state to complete them.
Learn the story of Arizona’s water, past and present: where it comes from, how it’s used and what challenges lie ahead.
This report explains the legal connection between surface water and underground water in Arizona and the vulnerability of some water users within the Gila and Little Colorado watersheds to a finding that they are misappropriating surface water. In addition, the report explores how water rights uncertainty undermines both economic development and sustainable water management in many Arizona communities.
Arizona's stream adjudications are complex legal proceedings to determine the rights to use water from the Gila and Little Colorado Rivers and all of their tributary rivers and streams. This report explores what types legislation related to the adjudications will survive constitutional scrutiny.
Learn how to use the interactive map of groundwater level changes throughout Arizona's 51 basins. This text is supposed to go within the Resource heading area.