Stream flow at Fossil Creek

Hydrology Division ADWR’s Hydrology Division provides technical hydrologic support to the Water Management, Water Engineering, and Statewide Water Planning Divisions.  The Hydrology Division has three primary functions:  to collect data statewide, to perform hydrologic analysis of permit applications, and to provide analytical tools such as groundwater models for use in supporting water management decisions. Data Collection Basic Data Unit Field Services Geophysics/Survey Unit Water Resources Section Assured Water Supply Well Impact Analyses Surface Water and Recharge Technical Support Section Groundwater Modeling WQARF - Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund

Data Collection

The Basic Data and Survey Units collect groundwater, surface water, GPS and gravimetric information that is used when submitting applications for water supply and recharge projects, for developing water budgets, hydrologic models, hydrographic survey reports, land subsidence evaluations, Indian water rights settlements, water rights decisions, well drilling application review, water quality assessments, in review of recharge applications and ongoing evaluations of recharge facility performance, and for a variety of special projects.  Reports, maps and data collected by the Division are available through the e-Bookstore.

Basic Data Unit
The Basic Data Unit is the Arizona Department of Water Resources primary source of groundwater data. Basic Data (BD) is responsible for collecting groundwater levels and some water quality data throughout Arizona.

Field Services
Includes Transducer Project and Data Search information.

Geophysics/Survey Unit
The Geophysics/Surveying Unit gathers, processes, and interprets land subsidence and aquifer storage data to help the Department better manage the State’s water resources.

Recent Publications:

Ground-Water Occurrence and Movement, 2006, and Water-Level Changes in the Detrital, Hualapai, and Sacramento Valley Basins, Mohave County, Arizona. (Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5182)

Detrital, Hualapai, and Sacramento Valley Basins are broad, intermountain desert basins in Mohave County, northwestern Arizona, and are home to residents in the City of Kingman and several rural communities. The spatial extent of these basins is defined by the Arizona Department of Water Resources’ (ADWR) ground-water basin boundaries. Ground water is the primary source of water in these basins and is essential for many economic and cultural activities. As in many parts of the western United States, population growth in these basins is substantial.

Water Resources Section

The Water Resources Section (WRS) provides technical reviews of hydrologic data and reports related to the following types of permits and applications: assured and adequate water supplies, well impact analyses, artificial recharge projects and in-stream flow. The WRS conducts these reviews in support of Department's Water Management Programs.

Assured Water Supply and Well Impact Analyses

Surface Water and Recharge

Technical Support Section

This section provides support in making water management decisions by developing groundwater models, performing GIS analysis of hydrologic data, and providing support to ADEQ's water quality programs.

Groundwater Modeling
The Modeling Unit has developed and used models for the Active Management Areas of the state and for several other areas as well.  Older reports are available through the Bookstore, while new reports are below. 

Santa Cruz AMA Groundwater Flow Model - ADWR has developed a regional groundwater flow model of the Santa Cruz Active Management Area that covers a stretch of the effluent-dominated Santa Cruz River in southern Arizona.

The model was developed as a tool to better understand the complex and interdependent stream-aquifer system, and to provide guidance for the management of regional water resources. Water management topics relevant to the Santa Cruz AMA include bi-national water issues and the reliability of water