§ 45-611 — Groundwater withdrawal fee; amounts and purposes of fee; exception

A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, the director shall levy and collect an annual groundwater withdrawal fee from each person withdrawing groundwater in the Prescott active management area or the person who owns the right to withdraw the groundwater, in an amount not to exceed $5 per acre-foot of groundwater withdrawn and beneficially used. The director shall levy and collect an annual withdrawal fee from each person withdrawing water, other than stored water, from a well in the Santa Cruz active management area or the person who owns the right to withdraw the water, in an amount not to exceed $5 per acre-foot of water, other than stored water, that is withdrawn and beneficially used. For the purposes of this article, the annual withdrawal fee levied and collected in the Santa Cruz active management area shall be considered a groundwater withdrawal fee. The actual amount of the fee levied and collected by the director pursuant to this subsection shall be set by the director as follows:

1. For administration and enforcement of this chapter, an amount not less than $.50 and not greater than $1 per acre-foot per year. The initial fee for administration and enforcement shall be levied as soon as practicable after the active management area is established.

2. For augmentation of the water supply of the active management area, conservation assistance to water users within the active management area and monitoring and assessing water availability within the active management area, an amount not greater than $2 per acre-foot per year.

3. For purchasing and retiring grandfathered rights, an amount not greater than $2 per acre-foot per year. The initial fee for purchasing and retiring grandfathered rights shall be levied in the first year in which the director develops and implements a program for the purchase and retirement of grandfathered rights as part of the management plan for the active management area, but not earlier than January 1, 2006. The director may not levy a fee under this paragraph on a district member of a groundwater replenishment district that withdraws groundwater in the district for a non-irrigation use in the district.

B. A person, other than an irrigation district, who withdraws groundwater in an active management area from a non-exempt well for use pursuant to an irrigation grandfathered right that is appurtenant to ten or fewer irrigation acres and the person who owns the right to withdraw the groundwater are exempt from the groundwater withdrawal fee requirements of subsections A and C of this section for those withdrawals unless the irrigation acres are part of an integrated farming operation.

C. Except as provided in section 45-411.01, subsection C and subsection B of this section, the director shall levy and collect an annual groundwater withdrawal fee from each person who withdraws groundwater in the Tucson, Phoenix and Pinal active management areas or the person who owns the right to withdraw the groundwater, in an amount of not more than $5 per acre-foot of groundwater withdrawn and beneficially used. The director shall set the actual amount of the fee as follows:

1. In the Tucson and Phoenix active management areas, beginning in 2017, for administration and enforcement of this chapter, an amount of at least $.50 but not more than $1 per acre-foot per year. In the Pinal active management area, beginning in 2017, for administration and enforcement of this chapter, an amount of not more than $1 per acre-foot per year.

2. For augmentation of the water supply of the active management area, conservation assistance to water users within the active management area and monitoring and assessing water availability within the active management area, an amount of not more than $2 per acre-foot per year. If a permanent board of directors of an active management area water district assumes office under section 48-4831, the fee for augmentation under this paragraph shall not be levied in that active management area.

3. In the Tucson and Phoenix active management areas, for Arizona water banking purposes, the amount of $2.50 per acre-foot per year. In the Pinal active management area, for Arizona water banking purposes, including replenishment under chapter 15, article 3 of this title, an amount of not more than $2.50 per acre-foot per year, except that no fee shall be levied in the Pinal active management area for this purpose during calendar years 2020 through 2026.

4. For purchasing and retiring grandfathered rights, an amount of not more than $2 per acre-foot per year. The initial fee for purchasing and retiring grandfathered rights shall be levied in the first year in which the director develops and implements a program for the purchase and retirement of grandfathered rights as part of the management plan for the active management area, but not earlier than January 1, 2006. The director may not levy a fee pursuant to this paragraph on a district member of a groundwater replenishment district that withdraws groundwater in the district for non-irrigation use in the district.

5. In the Pinal active management area, beginning from and after December 31, 2019 through December 31, 2026, an amount of not more than $2.50 per acre-foot per year for groundwater and irrigation efficiency projects.