In November 2022, voters in the Douglas INA area voted to convert the INA to an AMA.
This is the first new AMA created since the original 5 AMAs created by the 1980 Arizona Groundwater Act.
If you or your clients had water rights as part of the Douglas INA, it is important you file to preserve those rights no later than March 1, 2024. If the application is approved, the water rights owner will be granted Grandfathered water rights for either irrigation or non-irrigation uses.
Failure to apply by the March 1st deadline will mean a relinquishment of groundwater rights forever. Although there is a process in place, I suggest submitting your application early. We all know new process implementation sometimes takes longer than anticipated, so provide yourself some extra time just in case you need it.
Because the AMA is larger than the INA (AMAs are based on basins), members and their clients are encouraged to check the ADWR interactive AMA map and the Douglas AMA page on the ADWR website.
ADWR (Az Department of Water Resources) has an interactive groundwater rights map, a Douglas AMA information page complete with the required forms to establish grandfathered water rights and a timeline of the AMA process.
Helpful Links:
ADWR Interactive Map (AZ)
Know Your Rights – Groundwater Rights Map System
ADWR Interactive Groundwater Rights Map
Douglas AMA Election FAQ
ADWR Douglas AMA
ADWR Douglas AMA Meeting slides 4/11/23
U of A Douglas AMA meeting slides 3/16/23
