Arizona Water Banking Authority (AWBA) (AWBA)

The AWBA was established in 1996 to increase utilization of the state's Colorado River entitlement and to develop long-term storage credits for the state. AWBA stores or "banks" unused Colorado River water to be used in times of shortage to firm (or secure) water supplies for Arizona. These water supplies help to benefit municipal and industrial users and communities along the Colorado River, fulfill the water management objectives of the state, store water for use as part of water rights settlement agreements among Indian communities, and assist Nevada and California through interstate water banking.