Arizona Water Markets: Strengths, Inefficiencies, and Pathways Forward

Description:

Arizona maintains one of the West's most active water markets, with robust trading involving municipalities, industrial users, developers, government agencies, agricultural producers, Tribes, investment entities, and private utilities. This market encompasses diverse entitlements, including Colorado River water, the Central Arizona Project, groundwater in Active Management Areas, long-term storage credits and effluent. This panel will critically examine inefficiencies that create barriers to trading alongside practical solutions. At the same time, it will highlight the market's proven successes: enabling growth and development, supporting assured water supplies, providing economic incentives for conservation, and helping to sustain communities and industries in an arid state facing drought and post-2026 Colorado River uncertainties.