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Home Arizona Progress Meters Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Arizona’s natural beauty and resources are unique assets that contribute to our quality of life and economy.

What success looks like:

 

Arizona’s natural resources are sustainably managed for future generations to support our shared prosperity.

The Natural Resources Progress Meter reports data about our use and preservation of natural resources like water and open space.

 

Water

AUG 2021
100.0%
AUG 2020
23.0%
0
50
100

2022 Likelihood of Water Shortage

Shows the percent likelihood of a water shortage from the Lower Basin of the Colorado River.
2022 LIKELIHOOD OF WATER SHORTAGE FROM THE COLORADO RIVER
Bureau of Reclamation Colorado River Stimulation System Data (CRSS). Shortage Condition -- any amount (Mead at 1,075 feet of elevation or lower), 2007 Guidelines. (2022)
AUG 2021
97.0%
AUG 2020
44.0%
0
50
100

2023 Likelihood of Water Shortage

Shows the percent likelihood of a water shortage from the Lower Basin of the Colorado River.
2023 LIKELIHOOD OF WATER SHORTAGE FROM THE COLORADO RIVER
Bureau of Reclamation Colorado River Stimulation System Data (CRSS). Shortage Condition -- any amount (Mead at 1,075 feet of elevation or lower), 2007 Guidelines. (2023)

Officially, the August 24-month Operation Plan for Colorado River System Reservoirs projection is used to determine if a shortage will be declared in the following year based upon the January 1 expected water level.

 

152
Arizona
138
Arizona (previous year)

Per Capita Water Use

Measures the average number of gallons used per person per day.
Average AMA Residential GPCD
Arizona Department of Water Resources. Water use per sector, divided by population in geography (GPCD). (2019/2018)
6.7%
Water Loss
8.6%
Water Loss (previous year)

Efficiency of Water Infrastructure

Measures the amount and percent of water withdrawn from water sources by a water provider that is lost or unaccounted for before reaching the end user.
Amount of Water Loss
Arizona Department of Water Resources. Regulatory standard is 10% for large and 15% loss for small systems (<250 acre-feet). This L&U is aggregated on an AMA scale and is calculated to balance variation between supply and demand. It includes some metered connections and is calculated differently than the regulatory L&U for each provider. (2019/2018)
86%

Population in Protected Water Areas

Measures the percentage of the state's population that lives within protected or somewhat protected water areas.
Relative Amount of Population Within Protected or Somewhat Protected Water Areas of Arizona
Arizona Department of Water Resources. This metric is the percentage of the state?s population or land that is within the boundaries of a geographic area that provides statutory regulation greater than the general statewide provisions of the Groundwater Code. Currently, the Protected Areas are the Active Management Areas and the Somewhat Protected Areas are the Irrigation Non-expansion Areas and the Mandatory Adequacy jurisdictions. (2019)
24%

Land in Protected Water Areas

Measures the percentage of the state's land area that is within protected or somewhat protected water areas.
Relative Amount Land Area Within Protected or Somewhat Protected Water Areas of Arizona
Arizona Department of Water Resources. This metric is the percentage of the state?s population or land that is within the boundaries of a geographic area that provides statutory regulation greater than the general statewide provisions of the Groundwater Code. Currently, the Protected Areas are the Active Management Areas and the Somewhat Protected Areas are the Irrigation Non-expansion Areas and the Mandatory Adequacy jurisdictions. (2019)
Arizona
3

Disputed Water Rights

Shows the number of hydrographic surveys that have been ordered in Arizona's Gila River and Little Colorado River watersheds.
Progress on Adjudication of Arizona's Disputed Water Rights
Arizona Department of Water Resources. Number of Completed Hydrographic Survey Reports Within the 10 Hydrologic Basins in Arizona's Gila River and Little Colorado River Watersheds That Have Been Ordered by the Superior Court (2024)

Open Space

4
Open Space
4
Open Space (Previous year)

Amount of Open Space per Arizonan (Acres)

Shows the total number of acres of open space divided by the number of people in geography.
Quantity of Open Space per Arizonan (Acres)
AZ State Land Department, ALRIS, US Census Bureau. Total number of acres of open space including parks, preserves, and federal public lands divided by number of people in geography. Does not include State Trust Lands. (2017/2016)
Arizona
3

Natural Resource Conservation Plans

Shows the number of qualifying natural resources conservation plans.
Number of Arizona Qualifying Natural Resources Conservation Plans
Pima County Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, Pinal County Open Space and Trails Plan, and City of Peoria Sonoran Preservation Program (2019) (2019)
11,102
Forest Fires
131,785
Forest Fires (Grand Total)

Forest Treatment

Measures the number of forest acres treated to reduce damage from natural forest fires.
Extent of Forest Treatment to Reduce Damage from Catastrophic Forest Fires (Acres)
The Nature Conservancy of Arizona. Four Forests Restoration Initiative. Fiscal years; October of previous year through September current year. (2019)

In Development

Disposition of State Trust Land

Trail Miles and Ratio of Trail Miles to Population

 

 

Organizations Consulted for this Meter

  • Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
  • Arizona Department of Water Resources
  • Arizona Game & Fish
  • Arizona State Land Department
  • Arizona State Parks and Trails
  • Audubon Arizona
  • Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
  • DMB Associates, Inc
  • Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
  • Kyl Center for Water Policy
  • Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
  • Maricopa County
  • Northern Arizona University
  • Sonoran Institute
  • Sunbelt Holdings
  • The Conservation Alliance
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • University of Arizona Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture