Welcome

The Arizona Water Banking Authority (AWBA; Water Bank) was established in 1996 to increase utilization of the state's Colorado River entitlement and develop long-term storage credits for the state. AWBA stores or "banks" unused Colorado river water to be used in times of shortage to firm (or secure) water supplies for Arizona. These water supplies help to benefit municipal and industrial users and communities along the Colorado River, fulfill the water management objectives of the state, store water for use as part of water rights settlement agreements among Indian communities, and assist Nevada and California through interstate water banking. Through these mechanisms, the AWBA aids in ensuring long-term water supplies for Arizona.

Each year, the AWBA pays the delivery and storage costs to bring Colorado River water into central and southern Arizona through the Central Arizona Project canal. The water is stored underground in existing aquifers (direct recharge) or is used by irrigation districts in lieu of pumping groundwater (indirect or in-lieu recharge). For each acre-foot stored, the AWBA accrues credit that can be redeemed in the future when Arizona's communities or neighboring states need this backup water supply.

Announcements

The AWBA 2016 Storage Facility Inventory has been released.  Also, the AWBA will be presenting its Preliminary Plan of Operation at the upcoming GUAC meetings in the Phoenix, Tucson and Pinal AMAs:

Tucson AMA on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.

Phoenix AMA on Thursday, November 10 at 9:30 a.m.

Pinal AMA on Monday, November 21, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.

For detailed location please visit the Department of Water Resources public meetings notice page.

The next regular meeting of the Arizona Water Banking Authority has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. located at 1110 W. Washington Street.

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.02(A)(1), all public notices of meetings of the AWBA Commission and any of its subcommittees will be physically posted at the Arizona Department of Water Resources, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, Arizona, near the elevators on the first floor (blue paper), which is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except legal holidays. AWBA Commission meetings will also be electronically posted to this website under Meetings.