45-564. Management plan for first management period; guidelines

A. For the first management period, 1980 to 1990, the director shall promulgate management plans for the Phoenix, Tucson and Prescott active management areas not later than January 1, 1983 and for the Pinal active management area not later than July 1, 1985. In each plan, the director shall establish:

1. An irrigation water duty for each farm unit in the active management area. The irrigation water duty shall be calculated as the quantity of water reasonably required to irrigate the crops historically grown in a farm unit and shall assume conservation methods being used in the state which would be reasonable for the farm unit including lined ditches, pump-back systems, land leveling and efficient application practices, but not including a change from flood irrigation to drip irrigation or sprinkler irrigation.

2. A conservation program for all non-irrigation uses of groundwater. For municipal uses, the program shall require reasonable reductions in per capita use and such other conservation measures as may be appropriate for individual users. For industrial uses including industrial uses within the exterior boundaries of the service area of a city, town, private water company or irrigation district, the program shall require use of the latest commercially available conservation technology consistent with reasonable economic return.

3. Economically reasonable conservation requirements for the distribution of groundwater by cities, towns, private water companies and irrigation districts within their service areas.

B. Within thirty days after the management plan for the first management period is adopted, the director shall give written notice of:

1. The irrigation water duty for the farm unit to each person in the farm unit who is entitled to withdraw or receive groundwater pursuant to an irrigation grandfathered right and to each person distributing groundwater pursuant to an irrigation grandfathered right.

2. The municipal conservation requirements included in the management plan for reductions in per capita use and for the use of appropriate conservation measures by individual users to each person who is entitled to withdraw or distribute groundwater for municipal use in the active management area.

3. The industrial conservation requirements included in the management plan for each person who is entitled to withdraw or receive groundwater for an industrial use in the active management area.

4. The conservation requirements included in the management plan for the distribution of groundwater by cities, towns, private water companies and irrigation districts within their service areas to each city, town, private water company and irrigation district in the active management area.

C. Except as provided in section 45-411.01, subsections A and B and except for a person who obtains a variance under section 45-574, and except as provided in subsection D of this section, all persons notified pursuant to subsection B of this section shall comply with the applicable irrigation water duty or conservation requirements within two years from the date of the notice and shall remain in compliance until the compliance date for any applicable irrigation water duty or conservation requirements established in the management plan for the second management period. A person who obtains a variance under section 45-574 shall comply with the applicable irrigation water duty or conservation requirements by the date specified in the variance and shall remain in compliance until the compliance date for any applicable irrigation water duty or conservation requirements established in the management plan for the second management period.

D. A municipal provider which distributes groundwater to an individual user for which an intermediate municipal conservation requirement has been established pursuant to section 45-565, subsection D is not responsible or accountable pursuant to the first management plan for a failure by the individual user to comply with the intermediate conservation requirement occurring on or after the compliance date for the intermediate conservation requirement.

E. In addition to the provisions of the management plan for the first management period prescribed by subsection A of this section, the director may include a program for the augmentation of the water supply of the Tucson active management area including incentives for artificial groundwater recharge.