Realizing the need for drought preparedness in Arizona, a Governor’s Drought Task Force was created in 2003 and the Arizona Drought Preparedness Plan developed. The plan was adopted in 2004 and its continued implementation ordered in 2007. It established a framework to monitor drought, improve understanding of drought impacts, and determine mechanisms for limiting future vulnerability. The Arizona Department of Water Resources coordinates these activities and prepares the Arizona Drought Preparedness Annual Report each year.

The Arizona Department of Water Resources manages the state’s water supply. Water management includes a wide variety of activities that are intended to protect and preserve the water supply. Examples of these activities include licensing well drillers, assuring the safety of dams, and developing mandatory conservation requirements for all water use sectors in Active Management Areas, protecting the state’s Colorado River allocation and facilitating Indian water rights negotiations among tribal representatives, local interests, federal and state officials and members of Congress.

In 2001, ADWR undertook a review of the Upper San Pedro Basin to determine if it met the statutory requirements for designation as an AMA. This report reviews the water supply and demand of the USP Basin in the context of the statutory criteria and includes a discussion of whether any of the criteria have been met. Previously, ADWR conducted a study of the USP Basin and issued a report in 1988 in which ADWR determined that the Basin did not meet the statutory criteria for AMA designation. ADWR indicated in the report that it would reassess conditions in the Basin in ten to fifteen years. The study described in this report is an evaluation of whether the conditions of the USP Basin satisfy the statutory criteria. This report contains a description of the current and projected water resources and water demand in the Basin, incorporating new information since the previous review. The report examines historic water use trends, evaluates the groundwater resources of the Basin, and projects impacts of future water use on Basin groundwater supplies. The report includes an evaluation of the incidence of subsidence or fissuring, and of the potential for groundwater quality degradation due to groundwater use. The report further describes and evaluates the impact that AMA practices would have on water use, and includes a summary of findings, the director’s determination of whether the Basin should be designated and recommendations.

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance and detail on implementation of the Flood Control District of Maricopa County Floodplain Regulations and the Maricopa County Drainage Regulations. It presents the County/District philosophy on drainage and floodplain management, and planning for drainage facilities. It contains descriptions of federal, state and county regulations pertaining to such facilities, including links to the various District and County regulations that can be found on the Internet. Most importantly, the policies and minimum standards for implementing the regulations are presented. These policies and standards are based on flood and erosion hazard mitigation strategies that are intended to reduce or eliminate cumulative impacts resulting from development and to enhance public safety.

The 2009 Comprehensive Floodplain Management Plan and Program is intended to be used as a general guide for future decision-making in District activities. The Plan aims to present adequate background information to aid District staff in prioritizing areas for future studies and projects. The Plan identifies historic flooding events, reviews the District's efforts to solve flooding problems, and formulates five-year plans to reduce flooding through flood control project construction, floodplain identification, and planning programs throughout the county.