Skip to main content
Arizona State Library Logo

Main menu

  • Home
  • About
    • Volunteering Opportunities
      • Volunteer at the Arizona Talking Book Library
    • Boards and Commissions
    • Contact Us
  • Branches
    • Archives & Records Management
      • Accessing Arizona Public Records
      • Conservation Disaster Recovery
      • Programs, Training, and Presentations
      • Records Center Services
        • Records Warehouse and Vault
      • Research at the Archives
        • Ancestry.com Arizona
        • Arizona State Agency Records and Publications
        • Genealogy Collection
          • Genealogy Information Portals
          • Ten Basic Steps to Researching Your Family Tree
        • Maps at the Arizona State Archives
        • Photograph Collections
          • Photograph Collection List
        • Arizona Women's Hall of Fame
      • Retention Schedules, Forms, Standards, Guidance and FAQs
        • Forms and Approvals
        • Guidance, Standards and Statutes
        • Retention Schedules
      • Contact
    • Arizona Talking Book Library
    • E-Rate
    • Library Development
      • Arizona Center for the Book
      • Arizona Reading Program
      • Contact Library Development
      • Continuing Education
        • Arizona State Library Leadership Institute
        • Arizona State Library Summer Institute
        • Get Involved Collaborative
        • Scholarships
        • Library Support Staff Certification
      • Library Directory
      • Grants
      • Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) Funding
      • Programs, Services and Tools
      • State Grants-in-Aid (SGIA)
    • State of Arizona Research Library
      • Legislative Assistance and Resources
      • Patent and Trademark Resources
      • State Publications
      • State of Arizona Research Library Policies
      • Arizona Collection
      • Arizona Newspapers
      • Federal Agency Publications and Information
      • Legal Resources
      • Research Center
        • Voting Rights Timeline
      • Research for State Employees
  • Collections
    • Digital Arizona Library (DAZL)
      • Resources for Learners
        • Elementary Students
        • High School and Junior High
        • Research Topics
      • Arizona Almanac
      • Reading Arizona eBooks
      • Arizona Maps Online
      • Arizona Government
        • State Agency Histories
        • Historic Election Materials
        • Documents Leading to Statehood
        • Historic Arizona Legislatures
      • Arizona Historic Digital Newspapers
      • Arizona Memory Project
      • Arizona Research Topics
      • Online Reference Resources
    • Arizona State Knowledge (ASK)
    • Arizona Talking Book Library Online Catalog
    • Braille and Audio Reading Download
    • Research Library Catalog
  • Events
  • Services
    • Library Directory
    • Jobline
    • Newsletter
    • Retention Schedules
  • Home
  • Arizona Water Commission
Please excuse our site and file changes as we transition to Secretary Fontes.

Arizona Water Commission

Revision Date: 
Wednesday, June 1, 2016

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

Arizona Department of Water Resources

Authority (Transferred)

The Arizona Water Commission was created by Laws 1971, Chapter 49. The AWC assumed the responsibilities previously held by the Interstate Stream Commission, assumed the responsibility for supervision of dams, previously held by the State Highway Engineer, and assumed the  responsibility for licensing and regulation of weather control and cloud modification operations previously held by the State Land Department.  Water resource data and findings derived from surveys and investigations conducted by the State Land Department and the U.S. government were also transferred to the AWC.

In 1980, the Arizona Department of Water Resources replaced the AWC.


Function

The Arizona Water Commission was created in 1971 “to place within one state agency, the responsibility for the development, cooperation, coordination and approval of plans for the future use of waters of the state, for devising means and plans for development, conservation, utilization of all waters now within, or which may at a future date come within state jurisdiction, and for supervision of dams under jurisdiction of the state.”  (Legislative intent, Laws 1971, Chapter 49)  The Legislature was careful to state the measure was not meant to amend the duties of the Arizona Power Authority, the Department of Game and Fish or the State Land Department with respect to issues outside those responsibilities specifically transferred to the AWC.


History

Legislation enacted in 1971 outlined specific duties of the AWC including the authority to: appoint a state water engineer, employ geologists, hydrologists, consulting engineers and legal counsel; defend the state’s rights to interstate streams; negotiate and cooperate with the federal government and other states concerning matters within the AWC jurisdiction; manage state watersheds; prepare plans for development and conservation of the state’s surface water and groundwater, including irrigation, drainage, diversion, flood control and storage; measure and survey water resources of the state; maintain records of stream flow, groundwater levels and water quality; recommend state regulations to promote and protect rights and interests in waters of the state; enter into contracts  with other state agencies regarding state water plans; and ensure the safety of state dams and reservoirs.   The AWC also assumed responsibilities, previously held by the Interstate Stream Commission, related to use of the waters of the Colorado River.

Laws 1973, Chapter 94 required AWC to evaluate the adequacy of water supplies for new subdivisions and to provide that information to the Arizona Real Estate Commission.  The information was also required to be included in promotional material for the new subdivision.

Laws 1977, Chapter 29 established a 25-member Groundwater Management Study Commission to develop a comprehensive long-range plan for groundwater management.  In 1980, Governor Bruce Babbitt issued a call for a special session of the Legislature to adopt a code to regulate and control the use of groundwater and to establish a new agency to administer the state’s water laws.

Laws 1980, Fourth Special Session, Chapter 1 created the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and transferred the authority, powers, duties and responsibilities of the Arizona Water Commission and the State Water Engineer to the newly created Department.  The law addressed surface water, groundwater, dams and reservoirs and also authorized the Director of ADWR to act on behalf of the state with regard to issues related to the Colorado River.

Histories for the Interstate Stream Commission, the State Land Department and the Department of Water Resources are located elsewhere in this compilation.


Sources

Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 45

Session Laws

Laws 1971, Chapter 49

Laws 1973, Chapter 94

Laws 1977, Chapter 29

Laws 1980, Fourth Special Session, Chapter 1

Arizona Department of Water Resources website: www.azwater.gov

Related collections at Arizona State Archives:

RG 59 – State Land Department

RG 75 – Arizona Power Authority

RG 141 – Interstate Stream Commission

RG 142 – Department of Water Resources

Agency Histories

Starl Logo

General Information

Phone: 602-926-3870

Contact Us ask a question icon

Follow the State Library

Twitter - Arizona Capitol Museum Facebook - State Library of Arizona WordPress - Virtual Reference Desk

 

 

Arizona State Seal
Contact Us
Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records
Multiple Locations
See Contact Us Page
Map Image

Footer Nav

  • Statewide Policies
  • Site Map
  • Website Policies
  • Contact Us
  • Staff Login