Following a series of public hearings this year, the Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources issued a December 19 order designating the Hualapai Valley Irrigation Non-Expansion Area (INA).  The Hualapai Valley INA is on the western edge of the state, in Mohave County.

An INA, new irrigation of two acres or more of land is restricted. Acreage that has been irrigated within the five years preceding the initiation of the procedures to designate an INA may continue to be irrigated after the INA is formed. Owners of non-exempt wells that pump more than 35 GPM will be required to file annual reports.

Earlier this year, the Douglas Basin Active Management Area (AMA) was created following a citizen’s led initiative.  INAs are not quite as regulated as AMAs, but both are intended to manage groundwater supplies.

Image and Source:

Map of the Hualapai Valley INA from the Arizona Department of Water Resources.