- Buckeye and Queen Creek authorized to withdraw groundwater from the Harquahala Basin.
- Transportation Order allows up to 110 years of pumping under strict limits.
- Modeling shows withdrawals will not harm existing water users.
- The move supports Arizona’s long-term water planning and school funding.
Monday, July 21, 2025 — On Friday, the Arizona Department of Water Resources issued its first-ever Transportation Order
authorizing groundwater withdrawals from the Harquahala Groundwater Basin to the Phoenix area. The landmark approval allows the City of Buckeye and the Town of Queen Creek to draw from a groundwater supply exceeding 8 million acre-feet to support future growth, economic development, and water portfolio diversification.
Under the Order, Buckeye may withdraw up to 5,926 acre-feet annually, with a cap of 592,592 acre-feet over 110 years. Queen Creek is permitted to withdraw up to 5,000 acre-feet per year, with a cumulative limit of 500,000 acre-feet over the same period. The withdrawals will come from land within the Harquahala Irrigation Non-Expansion Area, a zone originally set aside in 1991 by the Arizona Legislature to serve as a groundwater reserve for future urban development.
Legal Framework and Application Process.
Arizona law generally prohibits the transportation of groundwater between basins unless a specific legal exception applies. In this case, Arizona Revised Statutes § 45-554 permits such transfers from the Harquahala INA to initial Active Management Areas like Phoenix. The cities of Buckeye and Queen Creek filed applications under this statute on February 28, 2024.
After reviewing hydrologic modeling and statutory criteria, the Department determined that the transportation would not cause unreasonable damage to nearby residents or water users. The anticipated groundwater depletion from the transfers is projected to be nearly the same, or slightly less, than what would occur under current land use practices, such as agricultural pumping.
Coordination with State Land and Education Funding.
In addition to expanding urban water supplies, the Transportation Order creates an opportunity for the Arizona State Land Department to participate in future withdrawals from the basin. This could benefit the State Land Trust, which funds public schools throughout Arizona. The approval aligns with recommendations made by the Governor’s Water Council in 2023 and follows the 2024 passage of Senate Bill 1242, which established new oversight measures for groundwater transportation from Harquahala.
Local and Statewide Support.
Governor Katie Hobbs hailed the approval as a new chapter in Arizona water management. “This approval…unlocks another water supply that Arizona can use to support our communities, economy, and way of life,” she said.
Local officials and stakeholders echoed her sentiment. Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn emphasized the agreement’s role in ensuring the city’s long-term livability and economic health. Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley described the approval as a “monumental point” in the town’s planning history.
Farmers in the Harquahala region also voiced support. Dave Lamoreax, a longtime landowner, noted that his family’s shift from farming to renewable energy was always intended to coincide with the basin’s transition to urban use.
Industry leaders, including Valley Partnership President Clark Princell, framed the approval as a turning point in regional water planning. “The groundwater being transported was set aside more than three decades ago…and today we are one step closer to doing just that,” he said.
Can you provide examples? Everything is double-checked.