Arizona’s Department of Water Resources released a draft proposal Wednesday that it says will conserve water and promote new housing construction by converting farmland into urban developments.  The so-called “Ag-to-Urban,” plan would allow farmers in areas of Phoenix and Pinal County that require active management of groundwater to relinquish groundwater rights in exchange for credits of physical water availability, then sell the land and water rights to land developers to build new communities with a lower water demand than the farming operations.

Other water planning news across the West:

• The Mendocino Voice (Calif.): After years of discussions, Board of Supervisors reject ordinance to regulate water extraction and selling​
• Capital Press (Salem, Ore.): (Idaho Department of Water Resources) meeting to cover Teton district creation for groundwater admin​
• The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah): Washington County’s plan to turn sewage into drinking water​