SB1202

THE CONTEXT: The Director of ADWR (Director) is required, not later than the first of December each year, to prepare and issue a water supply and demand assessment for at least six of the 51 groundwater basins in the state. The Director must ensure that an Assessment is completed for all groundwater basins and initial active management areas at least once every five years ( A.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would instruct the Director to include, in the Assessment for each groundwater basin, the: a; average depth-to-static level across the groundwater basin; b; average net change in the average depth-to-static level across the groundwater basin over each of the past five years preceding the end of the assessment period; c; maximum depth of bedrock at the deepest point in the groundwater basin; d; average depth-to-bedrock level across the groundwater basin; e; total number of active index wells in the groundwater basin, the average distance between them and the average distribution of them; f; total estimated volume of groundwater in storage in the groundwater basin to a depth of 1,200 feet; g; total estimated number of years' worth of groundwater available in the groundwater basin to a depth of 1,200 feet at the current annual average rate of change; h; total number of active and passive stormwater and groundwater recharge projects in the groundwater basin; and i; total volume of increased groundwater recharged in the groundwater basin due to active and passive stormwater and groundwater recharge projects in the groundwater basin in each of the five years preceding the end of the assessment period.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to make the stated financial responsibility enforceable and keep public reporting on time. It would instruct the Director to include, in the Assessment for each groundwater basin, the: a. average depth-to-static level across the groundwater basin; b. average net change in the average depth-to-static level across the groundwater basin over each of the past five years preceding the end of the assessment period; c. maximum depth of bedrock at the deepest point in the groundwater basin; d. average depth-to-bedrock level across the groundwater basin; e. total number of active index wells in the groundwater basin, the average distance between them and the average distribution of them; f. total estimated volume of groundwater in storage in the groundwater basin to a depth of 1,200 feet; g. total estimated number of years' worth of groundwater available in the groundwater basin to a depth of 1,200 feet at the current annual average rate of change; h. total number of active and passive stormwater and groundwater recharge projects in the groundwater basin; and i. total volume of increased groundwater recharged in the groundwater basin due to active and passive stormwater and groundwater recharge projects in the groundwater basin in each of the five years preceding the end of the assessment period, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.