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Welcome to the
Rural Arizona Watershed Alliance (RAWA) website. This section is intended as a communication and information resource for people living in the 87 percent of Arizona located outside the state’s five “Active Management Areas
(AMAs)*."
During the past 20 years, the Arizona Department of Water Resources has created the five AMAs
to monitor urban, agricultural, industrial, and mining activity
stemming from the heavy concentration of population and water use in
certain parts of Arizona. The AMA numbers are striking:
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About 80 percent of Arizona's population resides within the five AMAs.
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The AMAs account for about 75 percent of the state's water consumption.
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But the AMAs cover only 13 percent of Arizona's land mass.
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The regulatory focus is on the five AMAs, but the Department is responsible for – and committed to – non-regulatory water resource planning
statewide.
Over the past four years, the Department has provided substantial planning assistance to rural areas with expanding populations, limited groundwater resources and unique environmental features. The Department has assisted citizen organizations and local governments by providing technical information and analysis, administrative support and advice on water issues.
The Department's Statewide Water Planning Division has
worked with rural groups to implement the Rural Arizona Watershed
Alliance Initiative. The Arizona Legislature provided funding each year since FY
1999-2000. Several million dollars have been leveraged from other governmental
agencies as the watershed programs have blossomed.
Undeterred by tough budgetary constraints, the Governor has
continued her strong commitment to the rural watershed initiative.
To date, 17 watershed "alliances" have formed throughout
the state.
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